PREPARATORY DIVISION STUDENTS (GRADES 4—7)

Preparatory Division
Exam and Audition Requirements
In addition to the exam repertoire, a passing year-end grade in the theory class is required for each student.At the twice-yearly exams, and for auditions, students must perform the following:

grades 4, 5, 6

Violin

1. Three 3-octave scales and arpeggios
2. Two contrasting studies addressing techniques such as: slow and melodic playing; perpetual motion, Martele or staccato
3. One movement of a concerto such as Vivaldi, or a piece of similar difficulty
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales and piece must be memorized.

Viola

1. Three 3-octave scales and arpeggios
2. Two contrasting studies addressing techniques such as: slow and melodic playing; perpetual motion, Martele or staccato
3. One movement of a concerto such as Teleman, or a piece of similar difficulty
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales and piece must be memorized.

Cello

1. Three 3-octave scales and arpeggios
2. Two contrasting studies addressing techniques such as: slow and melodic playing; perpetual motion, Martele or staccato
3. One movement of a concerto such as Vivaldi, or a piece of similar difficulty
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales and piece must be memorized.

Bass, grades 4

1. Four (two major and two minor) 1-octave scales and arpeggios
2. Two contrasting studies addressing techniques such as: slow and melodic playing; perpetual motion, Martele or staccato
3. One movement of a concerto or sonata, or a short piece of some difficulty
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales and piece must be memorized.

Bass, grades 5

1. Four (two major and two minor) 1-octave scales and arpeggios
2. Two contrasting studies addressing techniques such as: slow and melodic playing; perpetual motion
3. One movement of a concerto or sonata, or a short piece of some difficulty
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales and piece must be memorized.

Bass, grades 6

1. Three 2-octave scales and arpeggios
2. Two contrasting studies addressing techniques such as: slow and melodic playing; perpetual motion
3. One movement of a concerto or sonata, or a short piece of some difficulty
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales and piece must be memorized.

grade 7

Violin

1. Three major and minor scales and arpeggio in three octaves in legato and detached sixteenth notes, including one scale in thirds
2. Two studies from Kayser, Mazas, Kreutzer, etc. addressing different techniques, such as
1. Slow and melodious
2. Double-stops
3. Perpetual motion, spiccato
4. Staccato
3. One fast movement from a classical concerto or sonata such as Haydn or Mozart, as well as one short slow piece exhibiting tone production
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales, arpeggios and concerto must be played by memory.

Viola

1. Two major and minor scales and arpeggio in three octaves in legato and detached sixteenth notes, including one scale in thirds
2. Two studies from Kayser, Mazas, Kreutzer, etc. addressing different techniques, such as
1. Slow and melodious
2. Double-stops
3. Perpetual motion, spiccato
4. Staccato
3. One fast movement from a classical concerto or sonata such as Telemann, J.C. Bach or Handel, as well as one short slow piece exhibiting tone production
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales, arpeggios and concerto must be played by memory.

Cello

1. Two major and minor scales and arpeggio in three octaves in legato and detached sixteenth notes, including one scale in thirds
2. Two studies from Krane, Schroeder, Popper, etc. addressing different techniques, such as
1. Slow and melodious
2. Double-stops
3. Perpetual motion, spiccato
4. Staccato
3. One fast movement from a classical concerto or sonata such as Ludwig Mendelssohn or J.C. Bach, as well as one short slow piece exhibiting tone production
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

The scales, arpeggios and concerto must be played by memory.

Bass

1. One major and one minor scale and one major and minor arpeggio in two octaves fast in legato and detached sixteenth notes or two slurred and two fast detached
2. Two studies addressing different techniques, such as
1. Slow and melodious
2. Perpetual motion, spiccato
3. Staccato or hooked bowing
3. One fast movement from a classical concerto or sonata such as Capuzzi, as well as one short slow piece exhibiting tone production
4. A short sight-reading piece given to the student at the exam

top

Preparatory Divisions Policies and Procedures

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance at each of the following events is mandatory.  STEP students are expected to plan for designated STEP events to ensure participation and attendance for the entire event.  If a student can’t attend a required activity due to illness or family emergency, contact the Artistic Director (marianagreen96@gmail.com) and the Project STEP office (jcaballero@projectstep.org or marysjaffee@projectstep.org ).

Participation in STEP events takes priority in the student’s program of study.  Please do not sign up for extracurricular school events that conflict with Project STEP activities.

Attendance at the following events is required:
(Please consult the calendar for dates)

• All private lessons, theory / keyboard / solfège classes, workshops, orchestra rehearsals and chamber music coachings
• Masterclasses
• The Spring Recital (students will perform)
• Community Service(2 per school year)  – date to be chosen by students / families
• Enrichment concerts in the Boston area (2 per school year), with concert reports on them submitted to office (2 per school year)
• Mid-year and Year-end workshops with the Artistic Director and accompanist
• Mid-year and Year-end performance evaluations (exams)

Students must contact the Artistic Director concerning participation in any outside musicial activities such as additional lessons or participation in additional ensembles.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Project STEP was designed to give the most talented under-represented students of color the training and support needed to become professional musicians.  In order for this to happen, both musical AND academic excellence is required.  To succeed in college or conservatory, young musicians need to have a strong academic background, good grades and SAT scores.  Analytical thought is the cornerstone of being able to be an expressive and literate musician.  A student who has weak academics will have trouble completing the course requirements in a college or conservatory and will have a more difficult time succeeding both in musical and other professions.

Most serious music students also tend to succeed in school.  Balancing the rigors of academic and musical life is a challenge for all students, and developing the organizational skills to find this balance is very important to Project STEP.  If your child is having academic problems, please contact STEP as soon as possible and we will try to help. The Project STEP staff, teachers and Board of Directors are excellent resources for advice on academic issues.  Please do not hesitate to call the STEP office with any questions or concerns.

PROBATION
Probation serves as a warning that a student is not making sufficient progress in the program and the student may be referred to another program if improvement does not occur.  If s/he is unable to meet the standards of the program, it will be recommended that the student transfer to a different music program.  STEP will work with these students to help them get scholarships with other music programs, such as the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, the Community Music Center of Boston, the Longy School of Music, or the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s ICP.

Performance at the two performance evaluations (Mid-year and Year-end) are the primary measures for student progress.  Those evaluations will count for 80% of the student’s evaluation.

Other factors that will be considered in Mid-year and Year-end evaluations are:

• Jury grades from performance exam (largest single factor)
• Private Teacher’s grade
• Theory grade
• Chamber Music (*Tardiness and absences will affect grades)
• Composer of the Month reports
• Community Service
• Concert Reports
• Attendance at required performances and masterclasses

ANNUAL PROGRAM FEE  
Project STEP has an annual program fee of $350.  The purpose of this fee is for parents to participate in the cost of their students’ instruction to a nominal extent.  The fee represents approximately 5% of the direct instruction costs, and 3% of the costs of operating the program.  Full payment or the Financial Assistance Application is due by Friday, October 8, 2010. 

FINANCIAL AID 
Financial aid is available for the program fee.  We encourage families to apply who will find the program fee burdensome.  Families who wish to apply should complete the Application for Financial Aid in the section of this book called ‘Agreement Forms and Financial Aid Information’.  Financial aid awards may cover up to 90% of the program fee.  Families must reapply for financial aid each year.  All information relative to the financial aid application is confidential.  Applications are reviewed only by members of the Financial Assistance Committee of the Board of Directors.  The Executive Director is informed of the decision only and applies the aid to the fee balance.  Financial Aid applications are due by Friday, October 8th.  This year a late fee of $25 will be added to those applications that are not in by Oct. 8th.  Information about your application will be communicated approximately four weeks after submitting the form.

top