STRINGS (Symphonic)

5

4

3

2

1

POINTS

COMMENTS

Scales / Rudiments

Student performs exercise accurately with excellent technique.

Student performs exercise accurately with good technique.

Student performs exercise with at least 50% accuracy and average technique.

Student performs with less than 50% accuracy and  below average technique.

Student performs with less than 50% accuracy and unacceptable technique.

Note Accuracy

Student reads and performs all grade level appropriate notes. It is not necessary for the student to mark any of the notes with letter names or fingerings.

Student reads and performs grade level appropriate notes only when he/she marks those notes indicated by key signature or that are different than the original key signature.

Student reads and performs grade level appropriate notes only when the notes are marked with letter names or fingering.

Student is unable to read or perform many of the notes appropriate to the grade level.

Student is unable to read or perform any of the notes appropriate to the grade level.

Rhythm Accuracy

Student reads and performs grade level appropriate rhythms while maintaining consistent tempo.

Student reads and performs grade level appropriate rhythms with no inconsistency and little hesitation in maintaining consistent tempo.

Student reads and performs grade level appropriate rhythms with inconsistency and much hesitation in maintaining consistent tempo.

Student is able to perform some rhythms appropriate to the grade level. Remainder are successful through echoing.

Student is unable to read or perform any of the rhythms appropriate to the grade level.  Shows trouble echoing with consistent tempo

Tempo

Given no marking, student can determine an appropriate tempo at which to practice and perform the selection.

Student performs the selection at a musically appropriate tempo when all that is given is a written description (i.e., largo, andante, allegro, etc.)

Student performs the selection at the specified tempo marking (i.e., quarter note = 100, etc.) and is able to use a metronome to establish the correct tempo.

Student performs the selection at an appropriate tempo that is established by the teacher.

Student performs the selection without regard to the tempo marking.

Dynamics

Student displays exceptional musicality and expression given his/her amount of study.

Student responds to all dynamics in the music and when not available, is able to express him/herself with different dynamic levels in response to the contour of the melodic line.

Student responds to all dynamics as written, including: pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, sfz, as well as crescendos and diminuendos.

Student is able to make the basic dynamic contrasts by performing mf, f, and ff at the same level (loud) and pp, p, and mp at the same level (soft). The student is also able to respond to crescendos and diminuendos

Student performs the music with no dynamic contrast.

Articulation/

bowing

Student uses proper bowing and responds to slurs, legato, staccato, and marcato markings during performance.

Student uses proper bowing and responds to most articulation markings during performance.

Student uses proper bowing and responds to slurs, and staccato markings only during performance.

Student uses proper bowing some of the time. Demonstrates knowledge of articulation markings but cannot respond during performance.

Student does not use proper bowing and cannot demonstrate knowledge of articulation markings.

Posture

Student consistently sits tall on edge of the chair with feet flat on the floor. Body is controlled with minimal extraneous movement.

Student often sits tall on edge of the chair with feet flat on the floor. Body is controlled with some extraneous movement.

Student sits on the edge of the chair but often "hunches" forward.

Student sits on the edge of the chair but "hunches" forward and rests the instrument inappropriately on the body or chair.

Student slouches against the back of the chair and rests the instrument inappropriately on the body or chair.

Hand Position / Fingering/left hand

Student uses proper hand position. Transitions are executed smoothly. Student uses alternate fingerings to produce best tone and intonation.

Student uses proper hand position. Finger combinations are performed correctly. Transitions between finger combinations are done with ease, smoothly and without hesitation.

Student uses proper hand position. Finger combinations are performed correctly, however, smooth transitions between finger combinations (moving from note to note) may not be consistent (esp. with chromatic fingering)

Student uses proper hand position and places fingers over the correct keys but performs fingerings with wrong combinations, poor coverage of keys and hesitates when moving from one note to the next.

Student places fingers over incorrect keys and needs frequent reminders with regard to proper hand position. Control and knowledge of fingering are not demonstrated.

Sightreading

Student performs excerpt accurately and displays exceptional musicality and expression.

Student performs excerpt accurately and displays some musicality; observes dynamics and some phrasing.

Student performs excerpt with at least 50% accuracy.  Observes some dynamics, minimal phrasing.

Student performs excerpt with less than 50% accuracy; observes few musical markings.

Student is unable to perform excerpt at an appropriate level.