Concert Band Grading Charts

Guidelines for grading concert band scores.

See also: Redefining the Wind Band Grading System.

Grade 0.5
Key SignaturesConcert Bb Major, Concert G Minor.
Key Signature ChangesNo Key Signature Changes.
Time Signatures4/4, 2/4.
Time Signature ChangesNo Time Signature Changes
Note and Rest ValueSimple Metres: Whole Note & Rest, Half Note & Rest, Quarter Note & Rest, Two-Eighth Notes.
Rhythm and PitchTwo-Eighth Notes: Must be the same pitch, must be followed by a quarter, half, or whole value.
Tempo72-100 BPM.
ArticulationStaccato, Slur, Accent.
OrnamentationNo Ornamentation.
OrchestrationNo Solos or Divisi, up to 4 different simultaneous voices.
Length48 measures maximum, 1 measure of rest for every 4 measures played.

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Grade 1
Key SignaturesConcert Eb Major, Concert C Minor.
Key Signature Changes%
Time Signatures3/4.
Time Signature Changes%
Note and Rest ValueSimple Metres: Dotted Half Note & Rest.
Rhythm and PitchTwo-Eighth Notes: Can move by step, must be followed by a quarter, half, or whole value.
Tempo%
Articulation%
Ornamentation%
Orchestration%
Length64 measures maximum, 1 measure of rest for every 4 measures played.

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Grade 1.5
Key SignaturesConcert F Major, Concert D Minor.
Key Signature ChangesNext closest key (perfect 4th or perfect 5th away).
Time Signatures%
Time Signature ChangesBetween simple metres.
Note and Rest ValueSimple Metres: Dotted Quarter Note + Single Eighth Note.
Rhythm and PitchDotted Quarter Note + Single Eighth Note: Must occur at the beginning of a measure, Single Eighth Note can move by step or repeat pitch.
Tempo72-132 BPM.
Articulation%
OrnamentationTrills
OrchestrationSolos must be cued in two other parts, up to two Divisi per instrument, up to 6 simultaneous voices.
Length96 measures maximum, 1 measure of rest for every 4 measures played.

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Grade 2
Key SignaturesConcert Ab Major, Concert F Minor.
Key Signature ChangesNext closest key (perfect 4th or perfect 5th away).
Time Signatures6/8.
Time Signature Changes%
Note and Rest ValueSimple Metres: Four Sixteenth Notes, Single Eighth Note + Two-Sixteenth Notes, Two Sixteenth Notes + Single Eighth Note, Three Eighth Note Triplets. Compound Metres: Dotted Quarter Note & Rest, Quarter Note + Eighth Note, Eighth Note + Quarter Note.
Rhythm and PitchSixteenth Notes: Can move by step, any type of 16th note figure can not be used consecutively.
Tempo72-132 BPM.
ArticulationMarcato.
Ornamentation%
OrchestrationSolos must be cued in one other part, up to two Divisi per instrument, up to 6 simultaneous voices.
Length128 measures maximum, 1 measure of rest for every 8 measures played.

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Grade 3
Key SignaturesConcert C Major, Concert A Minor.
Key Signature ChangesKey signature changes permitted two 4ths or 5ths away.
Time Signatures12/8.
Time Signature ChangesTime signature changes between simple metres, time signature changes between compound metres.
Note and Rest ValueSimple Metres: Three Quarter Note Triplets, Dotted Eighth + Sixteenth. Compound Metres: Six sixteenth notes, Two Eighth Notes + Two Sixteenth Notes, Two Sixteenth Notes + Two Eighth Notes.
Rhythm and PitchSixteenth Notes: Can move by step or thirds, any type of 16th note figure can not be used consecutively in compound metres.
Tempo56-144 BPM.
Articulation%
Ornamentation%
OrchestrationSolos must be cued in one other part, up to three Divisi per instrument, up to 8 simultaneous parts.
Length156 measures maximum, 1 measure of rest for every 8 measures played.

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Grade 4
Key SignaturesConcert Db Major, Concert D Major, Concert Bb Minor, Concert B Minor.
Key Signature Changes%
Time Signatures9/8
Time Signature ChangesTime signature changes between simple and compound metres.
Note and Rest ValueCompound Metres: One Eighth Notes + Four Sixteenth Notes, Four Sixteenth Notes + One Eighth Note.
Rhythm and Pitch%
Tempo56-144 BPM.
Articulation%
Ornamentation%
Orchestration%
Length256 measures maximum, 1 measure of rest for every 16 measures played.

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