Philosophy of Programming & Repertoire Selection

Ms. Emily Thomas

I believe that the music students play and listen to should expose them to traditional orchestral repertoire, as well as
repertoire with which they are already familiar. All learning potential lies in the selection of repertoire and
supplemental materials, therefore every piece selected should serve an educational purpose.
Criterion for Repertoire Selection:
Level of Difficulty:
- What grade is the piece?
- Is it hard or easy for its assigned grade?
- What is the key? tempo? tricky rhythms? difficult technique?
- How many new concepts need to be taught to play the piece?
Educational Purpose
- What concepts does this piece aid in teaching?
- Does the piece expose students to traditional classical literature?
- Is the piece composed by a noteworthy composer that could be discussed in class?
Ease of Recognition
- Have the students heard the piece before?
- Is the piece famous to those who are not musically inclined?
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Ensemble
- Does the piece showcase a specific strength of the ensemble or of a
specific section?
- Does the piece contain concepts that are challenging for the
ensemble? for a specific section?
- Are these challenges that should be addressed now with this
piece, or later with a different piece?
Number and Variety of Pieces
- How many other pieces are being played in the performance?
- What types of other pieces are being played in the performance?
- Fast and slow pieces?
- Pieces in different keys?
- Some recognizable and some new pieces?
- Pieces of different musical styles?
Type of Performance
- Is the performance being adjudicated?
- Is the performance designed specifically for the entertainment of the
audience?
- If the performance is part of a competition, are there any rules or
restrictions on repertoire ?