In a regular school year, every Lake Braddock orchestra participates in a district assessment that is facilitated by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director’s Association

This consists of preparing music from a pre-approved list of music that is separated by graded levels of difficulty.

Orchestras perform for a panel of three judges and are assessed on the accuracy of the performance in multiple categories.

Orchestras then briefly study and perform a brand new piece of music (sight reading) that is two levels easier than the music they performed for the three person panel for an additional judge for a grade.

The grades from the stage performance and sight reading are combined for an overall grade.

This experience is not a true standardized test but it is commonly referred to as the “Music SOL”.