Identifying the Characteristics of Levels of Difficulty in Educational Music: The Music Completity Chart

The Music Complexity Chart ([MC.sup.2]) describes the characteristics of the levels of difficulty of instrumental compositions for school ensembles. The Chart is intended for use by composers, teachers and music publishers. Compositions for educational purposes are labelled as Easy (Grades 1 and 2), Medium (Grades 3 and 4), or Advanced (Grades 5 and 6). However, based on the comments of major educational music publishers and a review of their guidelines for composers, there isn't a consensus on the characteristics of each level or grades within levels. In-depth analysis of several selections reveals a discemable pattern of increasing complexity in instrumentation, range, dynamics, articulations, melody, rhythm, harmony and form. The differences between Easy and Medium levels or Medium and Advanced levels are significant whereas differences within levels--that is, between adjacent grades--are subtle and not always easily discemable. From the analysis, a Music Complexity Chart ([MC.sup.2]) was developed and then refined with input from composers, music teachers and music publishers.