Vocal Music Rubric, Grades 3-7

Exceptional

4 Points Each

Outstanding

3 Points Each

Above Average

2 Points Each

Average

1 Point Each

Tone Quality/ Technique

(Breath, placement, etc.)

☐ Tone is warm, resonant, focused, consistent, vibrant, and full

☐ Consistent between head and chest voice

☐ Breath management is effective and consistent

☐ Moments of warm, focused, and full tone

☐ Mostly consistent between head and chest voice

☐ Breath management is appropriate

☐ Tone has little resonance and clarity

☐ Inconsistencies between head and chest voice

☐ Student breathes at inappropriate times

☐ Tone is average, breathy, forced, or unclear

☐ Head and chest voice navigation detracts from performance

☐ Average breath support, breath management

Intonation/

Rhythmic Accuracy

(Accuracy of pitches and rhythms)

☐ Printed pitches are performed accurately with great intonation

☐ Notes and rests are held for the correct value

☐ Exceptional flow with steady tempo and musicality

☐ A few inaccurate pitches and a few minor intonation problems

☐ A few minor rhythmic errors

 ☐ Steady tempo from beginning to end

☐ Several inaccurate pitches and inconsistent intonation

☐ Several rhythmic errors

 ☐ Tempo recovers from occasional unsteadiness

☐ Inaccurate pitches throughout, out of tune throughout

☐ Inaccurate rhythms throughout

 ☐ Tempo does not recover from mistakes

Diction

(English or foreign language)

☐ Diction is clear and enhances breath flow

☐ Student demonstrates mastery of the text

☐ Diction is often clear and precise

 ☐ Overall mastery of text

☐ Text is often mispronounced

 ☐ Lack of clarity/accuracy takes away from the performance

☐ Diction is unclear and inaccurate

 ☐ Average understanding of text of music.

Musicality

(Phrasing, expressive elements, nuance, dynamics, & tempo)

☐ Phrasing emphasizes the contour of melodic line in context of the whole piece

☐ Dynamic nuances are performed with finesse and artistic contrast

☐ Phrasing emphasizes the contour of melodic line

☐ Dynamic nuances are performed musically

☐ Phrasing is inconsistent with the melodic contour

☐ Dynamics performed without care for musical context

☐ Piece is performed stagnantly

  ☐ Dynamic contrast is average

Performance

(Memorization, stage presence, expression, artistry, fluency, talent, potential)

☐ Musical selection is memorized

 ☐ Student expresses themselves through the music selected

☐ Student shows great enthusiasm and potential

☐ Student has exceptional posture and poise in performance

☐ Musical selection memorized with few errors

☐ Student occasionally expresses themselves through music

☐ Student shows great enthusiasm

 ☐ Student has quality posture and poise in performance

☐ Significant memory slips

 ☐ Minimal expressive qualities

 ☐ Student does not express enthusiasm

☐ Posture and poise issues detract from the performance

☐ Student is unprepared

 ☐ Average expressive qualities

 ☐ Student is disengaged

 ☐ Posture is incorrect

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