Strings

How can I determine my playing level?

LAYP Playing LevelCM LevelRCM GradeABRSM Grade
5-64-54-53-4
7-106-86-85-6
11-129-119-107-8

Our Playing Level 5-6 are similar to RCM Grade 4-5 or ABRSM Grade 3-4
Our Playing Level 7-10 are similar to RCM Grade 6-8 or ABRSM Grade 5-6
Our Playing Level 11-12 are similar to RCM Grade 9-10 or ABRSM Grade 7-8
CM syllabus can be purchased at the MTAC Teacher Portal store.
Click here to see RCM syllabus.
Click here to see ABRSM syllabus

Q: I am participating in another certificate or competition program such as ASTACAP, SYMF, Satori, WMCF etc. How can I determine my playing level in this case?

A: Talk to your private teacher along with this playing level information (above). Your teacher will easily figure out your playing level referring to this chart.

Scale, Arpeggio, & Chromatic Examples

Playing Level 5-9:

  • Play two or three- octave scale, arpeggio (tonic), & chromatic as fast as possible to demonstrate fluency in the key which your solo audition piece is written in before you perform it.
  • If it is written in the minor key, play the melodic minor.

Playing Level 10-12:

To watch an example video of scale/arpeggio/chromatic, click here

To watch an example video of an audition solo piece, click here

  • Scale & Arpeggio: Play three or four- octave scale & arpeggio (tonic) as fast as possible to demonstrate fluency in the key which your solo audition piece is written in before you perform it. If is written in the minor key, play melodic minor. Violin/viola students may play in Carl Flesch Scale System.
  • Chromatic scale is required. Play 3 octave- chromatic scale starting on the tonic of the key your solo piece is written in.
  • Recommended (violin/viola only): Scales in thirds, sixths, octaves, or artificial harmonics are not required but one of them is recommended. This recommendation is for violin & viola only. The cello & double bass students do not need to do this.
  • Atonal: If your solo piece is atonal or non-traditional, play F-sharp major or E-flat melodic minor scale.

Violin

Playing Level 5 – 6 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerPiece TitleSource
VivaldiConcerto in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 6Suzuki 4
VivaldiConcerto in C Major, RV 181acontact us
VivaldiConcerto in D Major, RV 231contact us
VivaldiConcerto in G Minor, Op. 12. No. 1Suzuki 5
VivaldiConcerto in G Major, Op. 3, No. 3contact us
E. MollenhauerThe Boy Paganiniimslp.org
H. BishopHome Sweet Homecontact us
Henry FarmerThe Blue Bells of Scotlandcontact us
Note: Play one fast movement only
*Suzuki Violin School Volume 4 ; **Bosworth & Co
Playing Level 7 – 9 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerPiece TitleSource
HaydnConcerto No. 2 in G Major*Breikopf
AccolayConcerto No. 1 in A Minor**Schirmer’s
MozartConcerto No. 3 in G MajorSchirmer’s
BachConcerto No. 1 in A Minor or No 2 in E MajorSuzuki 7
VivaldiFour Seasons- Spring, Autumn, Summer, or Winter (solo violin)Schirmer’s
HaydnConcerto in C Major, Op. 48***Int’l music
MozartRondo in G MajorInt’l music
BeriotConcerto in A Minor, No. 9, Op. 104Int’l music
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)
*Breitkopf & Härtel; **Schirmer’s Library of Musical Classics;
***International Music Company (www.internationalmusicco.com)
Playing Level 10 – 12 Suggested Repertoire
KreislerPraeludium and Allegro in the Style of Pugnani
MozartViolin Concerto No. 1  in B-flat Major
MozartViolin Concerto No. 5  in D Major
ViottiViolin Concerto No. 22 (in a) or No. 23 (in G) 
MendelssohnViolin Concerto in E Minor
BruchViolin Concerto in G Minor, No. 1, Op. 26     
BeethovenViolin Concerto in D Major
BeethovenRomance in F Major, Op. 50
BrahmsViolin Concerto in D Major 
DvorakViolin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 53   
LaloSymphonie Espagnole, Op. 21
Saint-SaensIntroduction and Rondo Capriccioso
Saint-SaensViolin Concerto in B Minor, No. 3
SibeliusViolin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
TchaikovskyViolin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
VieuxtempsViolin Concerto No. 4 (in d) or No. 5 (in a)
SarasateZigeunerweisen, Op. 20 
KhatchaturianViolin Concerto
SzymanowskiViolin Concerto No. 1 or No. 2 
ProkofievViolin Concerto No. 1 (in D), or No. 2 (in g)
PaganiniViolin Concerto No. 1 (in D) or No. 2 (in b) 
WieniawskiViolin Concerto No. 1 (in F-sharp) or No. 2 (in d)
PendereckiViolin Concerto No. 1, or No. 2
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)
You can play an other solo piece which your private teacher recommends

Viola

Playing Level 5 – 6 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerPiece TitleSource
HandelSonata No. 3 in F, HWV 370 Op. 1 No. 12Suzuki 6
VivaldiConcerto in D MinorSuzuki 4
TelemannConcerto in G MajorSuzuki 4
VivaldiConcerto in D MinorSuzuki 4
Note: Play one fast movement only
Playing Level 7 – 9 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerComposition TitleSource
AccolayConcerto No. 1 trans. for vlaSchirmer’s
VanhalViola Concerto in C Majorimslp.org
Carl StamitzViola Sonata in Bb Majorimslp.org
BachSuitesSchirmer’s
Handel-CasadesusConcerto in B MajorSuzuki 7
CasadesusViola Concerto in the Style of Handelcontact us
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)
Playing Level 10 – 12 Suggested Repertoire
Concertos, Sonatas, Suites, Etudes, Variations, or Solo Pieces by all period composers:
Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century, and Contemporary.

Original/Arrangements/Transcriptions for viola:
For example, Bach’s Suites, Carl Stamitz (Concerto in D, Op. 1), Telemann, Mozart-Fuchs, J.C.Bach-Casadesus (Concerto in c), Hoffmeister (Concerto in D), Hummel (Fantasy)
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)

Cello

Playing Level 5 – 6 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerComposition TitleSource
BrevalConcertino No. 1 in B-Flat Majorcontact us
VivaldiConcerto in C Major, RV. 399contact us
VivaldiConcerto in D Minor, RV. 407contact us
GoltermannConcerto No. 4 in G MajorSuzuki 5
RombergSonatas No. 1-3 in e, G, or B-flatInt’l music
Note: Play one fast movement only
Playing Level 7 – 9 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerComposition TitleSource
VivaldiConcerto for Two CellosSuzuki 6
GoltermannConcerto No. 5 in D minor, op 76Fisher
BachCello Suites (any mvt. of comparable works)Int’l Music
Bach-VivaldiConcerto No. 1 in G MajorInt’l Music
Corelli-LindnerSonata in D MinorInt’l Music
BachGamba SonatasBarenreiter
Note: Play one fast movement only
Playing Level 10 – 12 Suggested Repertoire
Concertos, Sonatas, Variations, Etudes, Suites, or Solo Pieces by composers from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods: J. S. Bach, Handel, Haydn, J.C. Bach, Beethoven (12 Variations), Brahms, Bruch, Dvorak, Lalo, Tchaikovsky.
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)

Double Bass

Playing Level 5 – 6 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerPiece TitleSource
BachGavotte in G Minor*Suzuki 4
Gabriel-MarieLa CinquantaineSuzuki 4
DvorakHumoresqueSuzuki 4
MarcelloSonata in E MinorSuzuki 4
GabrielliCanon a dueSuzuki 5
*Suzuki Bass School Volume 4
Playing Level 7 – 9 Suggested Repertoire
ComposerPiece TitleSource
MarcelloSonata in G MajorSuzuki 5
CapuzziDouble Concerto Concerto in D or F MajorSuzuki 5
J. S. BachCello Suites (any mvt. of comparable works)Int’l Music
J. B. VanhalDouble Bass Concerto in E-flat Majorcontact us
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)
Playing Level 10 – 12 Suggested Repertoire
Concertos, Sonatas, Etudes, Variations, or Solo Pieces by Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or 20th century composers
Note: Play one fast movement only (with cadenza if applicable)

Harp

HarpPlaying Level 5 – 6 LENGTH
Suggested TechniquesHands doubled at the octave (scale). Tonic triads and V-7 chord (arpeggio). Rolled chords; double harmonics; muffles.
Divided between the hands; V-7 chord, rolled chords, hands together on the V-7 chord (all inversions); two hand trills; one hand arpeggios; descending slides in 3rds and 6ths; double glissandi 2 against 3 rhythms
5-7 min.
HarpPlaying Level 7 – 9LENGTH
Suggested TechniquesScales in 6th & 10th ; Hands doubled at the 6th; Tonic triads; V-7 chord, hands together, doubled at the octave in all inversions; rolled chords; one-handed trills5-10 min.
HarpPlaying Level 10 – 12LENGTH
Suggested RepertoireConcertos, Sonatas, Etudes, Orchestral Excerpts, Solo Pieces, by any period composers from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century; Open to all new pieces using new contemporary techniques.10 – 20 min.
Note: Play one movement/one solo piece only (with cadenza if applicable). If the movement/solo piece is too short, add one more solo piece/movement. You can play any solo piece which your private teacher recommends. If the solo piece you perform does not include the techniques you would like to demonstrate, you can display them through playing a scale, a short etude (8-16 measures) or an orchestral excerpt.