Keystage 3 Levels

Use these descriptions to understand what level you are at. You can also work out what you need to do to reach the next level.

Level	Equivalent music grade	Description of what you can mostly do in music
8	Grade 6+	Outstanding musical performer who is grade 6 standard or above, demonstrating many musical skills. Can read music fluently. Can listen to music and describe what they hear, using the musical elements (texture, timbre, dynamics) in their description. Can lead their group, experimenting with their own ideas with that group. An active, creative musician both in class lessons, instrumental lessons and extra curricular activities. Excellent listening skills, both individually and in an ensemble situation.
7	Grade 5+	Shows good musical skill, including outside the lesson. Can read music and can arrange or perform music in a different style witin the class lessons. Can lead a group. If only judged on the class lesson, they demonstrate excellent performance skills in group work and clear evaluations of the work of others. Can listen to music and describe what they hear, comparing to other pieces and styles.
6	Grade 4 - 5	Participates well in class lessons and produces good, mostly confident, musical performances. Work demonstrates some creativity (ideas new to the topic or context), especially when using garageband. When listening to music can describe what they hear (timbre, tempo, dynamics). Can perform creative ideas as part of their work. Provides effective evaluations of work of their own and that of others. Can act on self evaluation to improve work.
5	Grade 3	Can perform well in a group or individually. Creates and demonstrates good ideas, especially when using garageband. Can perform the Blues well and in time. Can describe most aspects of the music that they hear using a greater range of   musical vocab. Provides good evaluations of the work they produce and can set relevant targets.
4	Grade 1 - 2	Can sing well and perform mostly in time. Good at working in groups. Can listen to music and describe some of what they hear, using some musical vocabulary. Some good ideas combining samples when using garageband. Provides some evaluation of the work they produce.