Skill Expectations

MMR’s mission is to encourage and facilitate the study, preparation and performance of ensemble music by singers and instrumentalists of all experience and skill level. While we accept campers without audition, we encourage you to consider these elements of our program as you decide whether we are a good fit for you at this time.

Instrumentalists

This program consists of a large ensemble (Orchestra, Band, String Orchestra) and chamber ensembles. 

Repertoire for the morning large ensembles is selected from original scores of standard concert repertoire. The pace of rehearsal for the morning large ensembles is geared towards preparing for the Saturday concert and is not slow. Instrumentalists should be able to follow the written music while attending to the conductor and to sight read with some competence. Campers beginning their ensemble experience can focus on these skills.

Chamber Ensembles: We are able to  place most campers in suitable chamber ensembles and to provide appropriate repertoire. We use the following criteria for assignments:

  • Beginners: You have been playing for more than two or three years and know the basics, but have only just begun playing with others.
  • Novice: You play a repertoire carefully  chosen to be within your technical limitations. On first reading of a chamber music piece, you aim to get through the music and end together without too many stops and starts in between.
  • Intermediate: You are in the process of exploring the standard repertoire, perhaps avoiding works that are too technically challenging. You concentrate on not making major mistakes while reading an unfamiliar part. You are aware of what the others are doing. You often slow down a fast movement for technical reasons.
  • Experienced: You are familiar with portions of the standard repertoire; you play in tune and at tempo after a reading or two. You generally sound good on your instrument, and sight-reading is not a problem. You are attentive to all markings in the score. You pay attention to blend, balance, dynamics, style, and basic phrasing on a first reading. If you make a mistake, you can usually get back in without stopping.
  • Advanced: You have been actively playing your instrument for many years and have performed with advanced groups (eg. college groups, audition-only groups). You know much of the standard repertoire. If your partners make a mistake, you can often bring them back in without stopping. You consistently sound excellent on your instrument and aim for cohesive musical expressiveness with attention to fine nuance on a first reading.

VOCALISTS

The program consists of chorus and small vocal ensembles. While sight reading skills are encouraged, vocalists who learn by ear and have some choral experience are accepted to the program and are successful participants. We use the following criteria for placement in chamber ensembles.

  • Beginner: You love to sing but do not sing regularly with a chorus.
  • Intermediate: You have sung for two or more years, have below average sight reading skills, prefer to sing with accompaniment, and have sung or are currently singing with a non-auditioned chorus.
  • Experienced: You have sung for five or more years, have average sight reading skills, are attentive to dynamics and blend, know the standard choral repertoire, can sing unaccompanied, and have sung or are currently singing with a non-auditioned chorus.
  • Advanced: You have sung for ten or more years, have excellent sight reading skills, are attentive to all markings in the score, know a wide range of choral repertoire, prefer to sing unaccompanied, and have sung or are currently singing with an auditioned chorus.