Orchestra Sight-Reading Criteria
Sight-Reading Selection Levels and Conference Assignment
| Level | Conference | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| I | C | ||
| II | CC | B | A |
| III | CCC | BB | AA |
| IV | BBB | AAA | |
| V | AAAA | ||
| VI | AAAAA | ||
Non-varsity orchestras will read two levels below their conference.
Exception: CC/B/A non-varsity will read one level below their conference.
Level I - Conference C
Key
Concert D, G Major.
No key change.
Meter:
Maximum of two meter changes.
Rhythm:
Basic Patterns:
Length:
Maximum of two (2) minutes (single movement piece or one movement of a two movement piece).
Level II - Conference CC - B - A
Same criteria as Level I - Conference C EXCEPT:
Key
Concert D, G Major (and C Major for full orchestra).
No key change.
Length
Maximum of three (3) minutes (single movement piece or both movements of a two movement piece).
Level III - Conference CCC - BB - AA
Key
Concert D, G, C Major (and F Major for full orchestra) / d, a, e minor
Maximum of two (2) keys changes.
Meter
Maximum of two (2) meter changes.
Rhythm
Basic Patterns
Length
Maximum of three (3) minutes (can be multi-movement).
Level IV - Conference BBB - AAA
Same criteria as Level III - Conference CCC EXCEPT:
Rhythm
Basic Patterns
Length
Maximum of four (4) minutes (can be multi-movement).
Level V - Conference AAAA
Key
Concert D, G, F, C Major / d, a, c, g minor.
Maximum of three (3) key changes.
Meter
Maximum of three (3) meter changes.
Rhythm
Basic Patterns
Length
Maximum of five (5) minutes (can be multi-movement).
Level VI - Conference AAAAA
Key
Concert D, G, F, C, Bb Major / d, a, c, g minor.
Maximum of three (3) key changes.
Meter
Maximum of three (3) meter changes.
Rhythm
Basic Patterns
Length
Maximum of five (5) minutes (can be multi-movement).
