2018 VBODA Orchestra Sight-Reading Rubric Duration of piece is required. No more than four out of the remaining six categories may be met for the composition to be successfully graded at that level.

Grade Duration Rhythm Melodic Structure Harmonic Playing Position Style Bowing Stage grade/ S-R grade Structure

II/.5 No longer 4/4 D Major Unison and simple All parts in 1st position and Forte Simple/detache than 1:30 Whole notes, half on D and A strings notes, quarter notes, No accidentals nothing shorter than a quarter note

III/I No longer No rhythm faster D Major or G Major Simple and Tonal All Vln/Vla, Cello parts in May have one rit. Mainly Simple/Detache with than 2:00 than an 8th note and 1st position, no extensions Varying examples of the following: no more than four Celli and Basses play Mostly unison F, mf, mp, p Accents, Staccato, legato 8th notes grouped similar material, May include a repeated together Very few, if any of section Vln 2 and vla play similar these accidentals: C Bass- ½, III material and F natural

IV/II No Longer Previously Previously mentioned Previously stated Previous Characteristics Previous than 3:00 mentioned keys and their relative characteristics Vln/Vla- I position, could Characteristics Previous Characteristics characteristics. minors; add C Major and include no more than six A minor Simple and Tonal instances of the following: L1, May have one Add Slurs up to four notes L2, H3 tempo change and Add 3/4, 2/4 Cello- I position, could include Melody is mainly in upper Increasing no more than six instances of up to two Add dotted quarter strings with some sharing independence in parts the following: X1, X2, X4 Ritardandos notes with inner and lower Bass-can be in the following voices May have accidentals positions: briefly in all parts ½, I, III

V/III No Longer Previously Previously mentioned Previously stated Previous Characteristics Previous Previous Characteristics than 3:30 mentioned keys and their relative characteristics Vln I- Mostly I position, Characteristics characteristics. minors; add F Major and some shifting to III Add More independence for all parts D Minor Tonal/More position, May see L1, L2, Variety of Styles Add Triplets, simple independence in all H3 Add martele, marcato and spiccato syncopation, Melody is fairly shared in parts including use of Vln 2-I position,May see pp-ff both upper and lower accidentals L1, L2, H3 Add slurs with more than four notes May have grouped strings Vla-Mostly I position, May Up to two tempo 16th notes Up to two key see L1, L2, H3 changes changes Cello-Mostly I position, Add eighth note some III, and IV, May see Add fermata, followed by two X1, X2, X4 caesura 16th’s B- ½, I, II, III,

VI/IV No longer Previously Major and relative minor Previously stated Previous Characteristics Variety of Styes Previous Characteristics than 4:00 mentioned keys up to two sharps characteristics Composer’s intent characteristics. and two flats Vln- I-IV, L1, L2, H3, L4 ppp-fff Add higher levels of independence in Tonal/higher levels of Vla- I-III, L1, L2, H3, L4 Fermatas, between parts Add two 16th’s All sections should carry independence Cello: I-IV, X1, X2, X4 Accelerando, followed by an 8th melody at least once Bass: ½, I -IV caesura, and Rit. Add hooked legato and staccato note Inner parts are more active and less Multiple Time Add Compound predictable changes meters with nothing faster than 8th notes Two key Changes or more