Skills

Student musicians require certain minimum skills to participate productively with CPHO.  The information on this page is provided as a guideline to help parents assess their child’s technical readiness to audition and hopefully join CPHO. 

Here is a rule of thumb:  a student is generally ready after two years of private instruction, though we have had exceptional students with less instruction prove ready for the orchestra.

Ideally, students should know the flats and sharps of their instruments within approximately a 2-octave range.  The following list provides specific information about skill levels for different instruments:

Flute                     Low D to E above the staff

Oboe                     Low B-flat to A above the staff

Clarinet               Low E to A above the staff

Bass Clarinet     Low E to A above the staff

Bassoon               Low C to D above the staff

Alto Sax                Low B-flat to A above the staff

French Horn       G below the treble clef staff to D on the staff

Trumpet               G below the staff to G above the staff

Trombone            Low E (C with a trigger) to D above the base clef staff

Baritone                Low E (C with a trigger) to D above the base clef staff

Tuba                        Low A to A on the staff

Violin                      Low G to B above the staff

Viola                        Low C to G above the staff

Cello                        Low C to C above the staff

Bass                         Low E to A on the staff

While these ranges are the bare minimum for a student to fully benefit from participation in orchestra, CPHO can work with students with slightly less range.  CPHO also has music to challenge students with greater ranges. 

Additionally, students should have control over their instrument:  they should be able to play their instruments softly as well as loudly. 

If you have any questions about your child’s readiness to join CPHO, please don’t hesitate to contact us for further clarification.