Rubrics

Common Rubric

Category	Beginning 1	Emerging 2	Developing 3	Proficient 4	Accomplished 5	Exemplary 6
Technique	Very limited technique	Limited basic technique. Several missed pitches due to limited finger dexterity or flexibility in isolated passages.	Acceptable technique with some pitch/accuracy errors.	Well-developed technique with occasional/ Isolated accuracy errors.	Precise technique with expanded flexibility. Minor flaws in difficult material.	Mastery of instrument. Advanced techniques are precise and on demand.
Articulation	Unclear or extremely inconsistent articulations.	Some unclear or inconsistent articulations.	Well-developed articulations in some styles, with occasional inconsistencies	Well-developed articulations in any style, with limited inconsistencies.	Well-developed articulations in any style.	Demonstration of advanced articulation in any style.
Pulse/Rhythm	Unable to maintain steady pulse appropriate to the piece. Incorrect rhythms detract from overall performance.	Unsteady pulse when performing prepared material with incorrect rhythms.	Pulse is mostly consistent. Minor rhythmic errors.	Pulse is consistent and secure. Well-developed rhythmic ability. Occasional pulse or rhythmic errors do not detract from performance.	Pulse is consistent and secure. Isolated mistakes may occur from extreme technical challenges.	Pulse is consistent and secure. All combinations of rhythmic variety are accurate.
Dynamics/ Phrasing	Minimal to no dynamics or phrasing present.	Limited dynamic range. Phrasing rudimentary.	Dynamic range is adequate for the piece but less than optimal. Phrasing is acceptable but limited.	Some expressive use of dynamic range as appropriate. Phrases are shaped in a thoughtful and musical manner.	Strong command of dynamics. Mature phrasing appropriate to the style.	Dynamics are instinctive and seem effortless. Absolute control and stylistic sensitivity.
Tone/Intonation	Tone is undeveloped. Intonation distracts from performance.	Rudimentary approach to tone production. Frequent inaccuracies in intonation.	Consistent tone across most of the practical range. Some inaccuracies in intonation.	Well-developed tone across entire practical range. Occasional inaccuracies in intonation.	Full and resonant tone across entire range with functional extremes. Few intonation errors.	Masterful and artistic production of a vibrant, resonant, and flexible tone throughout all registers. Impeccable intonation in all ranges.
Style/Musicality	No stylistic concept.	Limited ability to correctly perform in style appropriate to the piece.	Adequate stylistic differentiation. Period appropriate styles acceptable.	Stylistic differences evident and appropriate to period. Some expressive devices used, but may lack maturity.	Professionally versed in all demonstrated styles. Vibrato and expressive devices are used to enhance the musical line.	Mastery of styles as appropriate to pieces performed. Demonstrates command of style and musicality.
Professional Disposition	Conduct, including demeanor and attire, demonstrate limited display of professionalism.		Conduct, including demeanor and attire, meets all generally accepted aspects of professionalism		Conduct, including demeanor and attire, demonstrate the utmost in professionalism and poise throughout the performance.

Additional Criteria for Voice

Category	Beginning 1	Emerging 2	Developing 3	Proficient 4	Accomplished 5	Exemplary 6
Breath Management/ Body Alignment	Body alignment and breath management are not secure, and affect support most of the time, detracting from entire performance.	Body alignment and breath management are inconsistent, but minimally detracts from most of the performance.	Body alignment and breath management are sometimes consistent in some of the performance, but minimally detracts from some of the performance.	Body alignment and breath management are mostly consistent in most of the performance, and mostly meet expectations.	Body alignment and breath management are consistently good in most of the performance and always meets expectations.	Body alignment and breath management is evident across entire performance and is evident at mastery level.
Communication of Text/Diction	Demonstrates no connection to the music beyond mere notes, rhythms and technical considerations. Communication of text and foreign languages is clearly inadequate and detracts from entire performance.	Demonstrates beginning connection to the music beyond technical considerations and text is rarely articulated clearly, with no strong command of foreign languages, but minimally detracts from most of performance.	Demonstrates some connection to the music and text beyond technical considerations, but articulation of the text is often not correct /discernable; but minimally detracts from some of the performance.	Demonstrates a growing connection to the music and text beyond technical considerations. Articulates clearly some of the time; good in some of the performance and mostly meets expectations.	Demonstrates a solid connection to the music and text beyond technical considerations. Articulates clearly most of the time; consistently good in most of the performance and always meets expectations.	Demonstration of mastery across the entire performance of an advanced connection to the music and text beyond technical considerations. Articulates clearly and the text of the music is always understandable; shows excellent command of all languages.
Memorization	Works presented evidenced an extremely high level of errors in memorization of text, rhythms, and pitches.	Works presented evidenced a high level of errors in memorization of either text, rhythm, or pitches.	Works presented were mostly memorized, but with several memorization mistakes of text, rhythm, or pitches.	Works presented are mostly memorized with only minor memorization mistakes of text, rhythm, or pitches.	Works presented are memorized and executed with little to no memorization mistakes of text, rhythm, or pitches.	Works presented are memorized and executed with total accuracy. Text, pitches, and rhythms are performed with total accuracy.

Additional Criteria for Piano

Category	Beginning 1	Emerging 2	Developing 3	Proficient 4	Accomplished 5	Exemplary 6
Memorization	There are continuous memory slips, constant stopping and starting, and the work cannot be performed to its completion.	There are significant memory slips, frequent stopping and starting, and overall the work does not sound ready for performance.	There are several memory slips in notes, rhythm, fingering, dynamics, articulation, or pedal markings and hesitations impede the musical flow.	Memorization of notes, rhythms, fingering, dynamics, articulation, and pedal markings is mostly accurate, and there are only a few interruptions in the musical flow.	Memorization of notes, rhythms, fingering, dynamics, articulation, and pedal markings is mostly accurate, and there is one brief interruption in the musical flow.	Memorization of notes, rhythms, fingering, dynamics, articulation, and pedal markings is accurate, and the musical flow is uninterrupted.

Additional Criteria for Organ

Category	Beginning 1	Emerging 2	Developing 3	Proficient 4	Accomplished 5	Exemplary 6
Hymn	There are significant rhythm or note errors in the voice leading and playing of the hymn, registrations are not prepared, a steady tempo is not maintained. There is not yet attention to text/breath.	There are some errors in rhythms or voice-leading that impede the musical flow of the hymn. Beginning registrations are prepared but need to be developed. Beginning attention to phrasing, breath, and text is present and developing.	There are occasional errors or hesitations in the execution of the hymn that impede the musical flow. Registrations are well-prepared but need work. There is attention to text and breath in the phrasing.	The playing of the hymn is overall accurate and effective with attention to text, phrasing, breathing, and appropriate registrations, and there are only a few interruptions in the musical flow.	The hymn is well-prepared, registrations are balanced and well-informed in relation to the text and context of the hymn, and there are only brief interruptions, if any, that impede the musical flow of the accompaniment. Alternate harmonization or interludes are present.	The preparation and performance of the hymn is at the highest level, including a prepared or improvised introduction, textually-appropriate registrations, reharmonization or treatment of one or more verses, accurate playing, and awareness of breath and phrasing in the room.