Descriptions
Each piece listed on horsehairmusic.com is graded by the skills and techniques in that piece. Below is a list of techniques, characteristics and skills which are new at each level. This leveling system was created referencing repertoire lists from American String Teachers Association, Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, The Suzuki Association of the Americas, and individual teachers. Click on the level number below to see a list of graded repertoire with links to annotations for each piece.
Range:
- A Major (A4-A5)
- D Major (D4-D5)
Left Hand
- 1st position
- Use all 4 fingers (position of open string, whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step)
Bowing
- Detaché
- Use of the whole bow
- Bow divisions
- Staccato
- Retakes
- Hooked Bows – Quarter Notes
Rhythm
- Quarter Notes
- Half Notes
- Whole Notes
- Eighth Notes
- Dotted Quarters
- Sixteenth Notes
Meter
- 4/4
- 2/4
Range:
- G Major (G3-G5)
- E minor (E4-E5)
Left Hand
- 1st position
- Low 2 (C-natural, G natural)
Bowing
- Hooked bowing for 2 quarters
- Hooked bowing for dotted quarter eighth
- Slurring 2 eighth notes
Meter
- 3/4
Range:
- F Major (F4-F5)
- C Major (C4-C6)
- A Major (A3-A5)
- D minor (D4-D5)
- A minor (A3-A5)
Left Hand
- 1st position
- Trills
- 4th finger extension
- High 3 (G#, D#)
- Low 1 (Bb, F natural)
Bowing
- Hooked bowing for dotted eighth sixteenth
- Slurred 3 triplet
- Slurred 4 sixteenths
- Up-bow staccato – 4 eighth notes
- Pizzicato chords
Rhythm
- Simple syncopation
- Slurred triplet
Range:
- Bb Major (Bb3-Bb5)
- G minor (G3-G5)
- D Major (D4-D6)
Left Hand
- 1st position
- Turns
- Low 4 (Eb, Bb)
- 4th finger extension
- Double stops using 1 finger and open string
- Harmonics
Bowing
- Off the string brush stroke
Rhythm
- 32nd notes
- Ties
Range:
- A Major
- A minor
- Bb Major
- C Major
- D Major
- D minor
- E Major
- E minor
- F Major
- G Major
- G minor
- B minor (1st position)
- C minor
- F# minor
Left Hand
- 3rd position
- Fingered double-stops
Bowing
- Bowed chords
- Brush stroke triplets
- On the string bariolage
- Brushed double stops
Meter
- 4/4
- 2/4
- 3/4
- 2/2
- 3/8
- 6/8
Rhythm
- Ties over the barline
- Tempo changes
Range:
- A Major
- A minor
- B minor
- Bb Major
- C Major
- C minor
- D Major
- D minor
- E Major
- E minor
- F Major
- F# Minor
- G Major
- G minor
Left Hand
1st position
3rd position
2nd position
Left Hand pizzicato whole bowing
Minimal shifting above 3rd position; 1 or 2 measure at most
Natural Harmonics
Bowing
Half Bows
Whole Bows
Detaché
Staccato
Retake
Hooked bows
Meter
- 4/4
- 2/4
- 3/4
- 2/2
- 3/8
- 6/8
- 3/2
- 12/8
Rhythm
- Quarter Notes
- Half Notes
- Whole Notes
- Eighth notes
- Dotted Quarter Notes
- 4 Sixteenth Note Pattern
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