Instrumental Workshop Levels

Level 0: Absolute beginner

• You have your own instrument

• You have no prior experience at all and don’t even know which way up it goes

• You may be completely new to music

Level 1: Beginner

• You are at the beginning of your playing journey

• You may have had a few lessons or attended a few workshops / classes

• You can play a few simple tunes with the right hand

• Learning by ear may be a slow process for you

• OR Reading music may be a slow process for you

Level 2: Improver

• You can play a few tunes with some basic bass patterns, but lack fluency and confidence

• You have some understanding of folk tunes in the most common formats

• You have limited experience of playing in a group setting

• Learning by ear may be a slow process for you

• OR Reading music is possible if you have the fingering written in

Level 3: Intermediate

• You can play a range of tunes with a degree of fluency and confidence (in a group setting)

• It takes you while to play both hands together for a new tune

• Your left hand chord jumps are less reliable

• You have a good understanding of folk tunes, their format and rhythms

• You have some experience of playing in a group setting

• You can pick up tunes by ear given enough time

• OR Reading music is possible given time to try it out

Level 4: Advanced

• You like to work at a fast pace

• You can master a new tune, both hands together quickly and confidently

• You are comfortable playing a wide range of tunes fluently in various time signatures and keys

• You have a solid sense of rhythm

• You are exploring aspects such as ornamentation, phrasing and personal style

• You are familiar with counterbasses, short bass runs and can reliably jump from e.g. the C row to the A row

• You have a lot of experience of playing in a group setting

• You can pick up tunes quickly by ear

• OR You are a confident sight reader

Level 0: Absolute beginner

• You have your own instrument

• You have no prior experience at all and don’t even know which way up it goes

• You may be completely new to music

Level 1: Beginner

• You are at the beginning of your playing journey

• You may have had a few lessons or attended a few workshops / classes

• You can play a few simple tunes

• Learning by ear may be a slow process for you

Level 2: Improver

• You can play a range of tunes, but lack fluency and confidence (in a group setting)

• You know what the notes are and how to find them in first position

• You can pick up tunes by ear given enough time

• You have some understanding of folk tunes in the most common formats

• You have limited experience of playing in a group setting

Level 3: Intermediate

• You can play a range of tunes with fluency and confidence (in a group setting)

• You can pick up tunes by ear without too much trouble

• You have a good understanding of folk tunes, their format and rhythms

• You have some experience of playing in a group setting

• You have started to explore double-stopping, chords and harmonies

Level 4: Advanced

• You are comfortable playing a wide range of tunes fluently in various time signatures and keys

• You can pick up tunes quickly by ear

• You have a solid sense of rhythm

• You are exploring aspects such as ornamentation, phrasing and personal style

• You are comfortable with varying bowing patterns within tunes

• You have some experience of playing chords and harmonies

• You have a lot of experience of playing in a group setting

What System? For most courses a 2-row, 8 bass instrument will be more than adequate at all levels; where a course is likely to have a bias towards 2.5 row / 3 row / 12+ bass systems, this will be indicated in the course description.

Level 0: Absolute beginner

• You have no prior experience at all and don’t even know which way up it goes

• You may be completely new to music

• You may need to borrow an instrument to try

Level 1: Beginner

• You might have just started playing, with a lesson or two under your belt

• Or you may have been playing for longer but not getting very far…

• You are mainly playing right hand; getting the left hand to work as well is a bit of a task!

• When learning new tunes, you need to take things very slowly

• Playing in a group environment might be new to you

• You have your own 2-row, 8 bass instrument

Level 2: Improver

• You are able to play a few simple tunes (eg. Winster Gallop, Banbury Bill etc) using both hands together

• You can use the left-hand bass and chord buttons in simple rhythms

• Right and left hand co-ordination is still tricky!

• Row crossing is a dark art…

• Learning new tunes – from music or by ear – takes a bit of time

• You probably play a two-row, 8 bass instrument

Level 3: Lower Intermediate

• You can play simple tunes – using both hands – in different keys (eg. D, G, E minor)

• You’ll have some knowledge of playing different repertoire and styles

• You have a pretty good idea of where to find all the notes on the treble end

• You know where to find your basses and chords on the left hand

• You can confidently play a variety of left hand rhythms

• You are crossing rows

• You are able to pick up tunes by ear, and are also able to play from music, albeit at a steady pace

• You probably play a two-row, 8 bass instrument

Level 4: Upper Intermediate

• You can play with a degree of fluency across a variety of repertoire and styles

• You fully understand the layout of your instrument

• You can quickly find notes as required

• You are becoming confident playing across the rows

• You can keep a good rhythm and pace

• You are exploring aspects such as style, phrasing, dynamics, accents, and ornamentation

• You can learn tunes by ear at a reasonable pace, and can read music too

• You might now be playing a two-and-a-half or 3 row instrument, with 12/14/18 basses, and be exploring how to use it

• Or you might be a motivated player of a two-row, 8 bass instrument

Level 5: Advanced

• You can play fluently across a variety of repertoire and styles

• You can learn quickly by ear, and sight read

• You play confidently across the rows

• You can improvise

• You’ve developed a personal style and musicality

• You are experienced playing and arranging sympathetically with others

• You probably play a three-row, 12/18 bass, or a two-and-a-half row instrument, with 12 basses, and can make use of the additional possibilities the system allows you

• If you play a two-row, but are otherwise sure you meet the description of an advanced player, then please contact us to check suitability.