Knowing if a workshop or meeting is appropriate for you can alleviate stress and ensure that you have a good time. The BCRS has adopted the rating system used by the Montreal Recorder Society to help you in determining your skill level. All BCRS activities are given a level to help you decide. Please note that this is only a guide and you should not exclude yourself from a group just because you cannot meet one or two of the expectations. When in doubt, please contact us for more information.
BEGINNER
No previous experience necessary. No previous knowledge of music is required.
INTERMEDIATE I
This level concentrates on the basic elements of recorder playing in order to help you acquire the ability to play in an ensemble: rhythm, phrasing and interpretation. This level is also recommended for experienced musicians who are learning to play the recorder as a new instrument.
The desirable prerequisites for taking part in Intermediate I activities are:
- To know the basic fingerings of at least one type of recorder (a recorder in C or in F)
- To play comfortably in keys having one sharp or one flat
- To be capable of reading simple rhythms that consist of whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes with a time signature of 4/4
- Have never played in an ensemble before
- Already know the fingering of a soprano or an alto and want to learn that of other recorders
- Have difficulty playing the whole range of their instruments
Intermediate II
This level is meant for recorder players who have mastered Intermediate I and who wish to give themselves a new challenge. The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To play the soprano, alto, and tenor recorders
- To produce an even and well-sustained tone
- To be at ease in keys having up to two sharps or two flats
- To be capable of playing at a moderate speed (e.g. to play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 68 beats per minute)
- To be more and more attentive to the gestures of the conductor (indicating variations in tempo and nuances) and to try to react to them promptly
- To write down the indications stated by the conductor (e.g. tempo, breathing, articulation, and phrasing)
- To practise regularly
- To listen to the other musicians
Intermediate III
This level is meant for recorder players who have mastered Intermediate II and who wish to give themselves a new challenge. The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To play soprano, alto, tenor, and bass recorders
- To play easily the entire range of the instruments (2 octaves)
- To be at ease in keys having up to three sharps or three flats
- To be capable of playing at a moderate speed (e.g. to play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 76 quarter notes per minute)
- To increase the tempo as needed
- To react promptly to the gestures of the conductor (indicating variations in tempo and nuances)
- To practise tuning and to be able to adjust to concert pitch (A = 440)
- To be at ease with 2/2 tempos and all the ternary tempos
- To play a part alone comfortably (in rehearsal, not in concert)
- To be able to transpose music an octave up for the alto and to read in the bass clef on the tenor
Intermediate IV
This level is for recorder players who have mastered Intermediate III and who wish to give themselves a new challenge. The desirable prerequisites for taking part in this group are:
- To play easily the entire range of each instrument (2 octaves and 1 tone)
- To be at ease in keys having up to four sharps or four flats
- To be capable of playing at high speed (e.g. play sixteenth notes in 4/4 time at 88 quarter notes per minute)
- To be constantly attentive and responsive to the gestures of the conductor (indicating variations in tempo and nuances)
- To play in tune
- To be at ease with sight-reading
- To play a part alone comfortably
- To quickly realize if you are lost and be able to quickly find your place again
- To easily transpose music for the alto recorder up an octave