Small Ensemble Test GRADING RUBRIC 1.0 1.5 2.

0 Developing Needs Improvement Correct words and diction

Words are not sung at all, or words are not enunciated enough to understand any of them. Some words are sung clearly, but most of them are nonsense words (la, da, etc.) or are difficult to distinguish.

2.5

3.0 Below Average

All the words are sung, but some are difficult to understand because they are not enunciated well. All verses were clearly not practiced as performer is stumbling over some words.

NAME: __________________________________ 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 Average Above Average

All words are sung, in the correct order. No words are stumbled over. Diction is precise and all words are clearly understood. All words are sung, in the correct order. No words are stumbled over. Diction is precise and all words are clearly understood. In addition, special attention is made to communicate the meaning of the words. Voice part is clearly heard, both alone and within the group. Additionally, the voice part contributes meaningfully to the musicality of the ensemble. The singer maintains intonation throughout the song without wavering or changing pitch. In addition, the singer helps to keep other performers in tune as well. All notes are sung on the correct pitches. In addition, notes are sung with rhythmic accuracy and contribute to the structure of the ensemble.

Voice part is clearly heard

The singer is not singing so voice part is not heard at all.

Voice part is heard, but is only barely audible. Sound is being produced, but not enough for anyone but the singer to hear.

Voice part is heard, but lacks some volume necessary to be heard in a group.

Voice part is clearly heard, both alone and within the group.

Intonation

The singer cannot match pitch.

The singer can match starting pitch, but quickly loses intonation and remains out of tune for the remainder of the song.

Accuracy of No notes are sung, or notes which are sung notes

are not on the correct pitches (inability to match pitch or perform an independent voice part).

Starting notes are sung on the correct pitches, but after a few measures, notes are no longer accurate, either because singer does not know the correct pitches or is singing another voice part. Notes are not rhythmically accurate.

The singer matches the starting pitch, and maintains intonation for most of the song. However, either individually or as an ensemble the pitch wavers and/or goes out of tune completely. Many notes are sung on the correct pitches, but during difficult passages notes lose accuracy either by pitch, rhythm, or voice part.

The singer maintains intonation throughout the song without wavering or changing pitch.

All notes are sung on the correct pitches.

Ensemble balance

One singer or voice part only is heard. There is truly only one performer and thus there is not an ensemble.

One or more voice parts overshadow the rest of the ensemble. One or more voice parts are inaudible during performance.

While one or more voice parts clearly stand out, the ensemble attempts to correct balance issues during performance.

All voice parts are clearly heard, with no one voice part standing out and no one voice part getting lost in the noise.

Vowels

No choral/Latin vowels are sung during performance. All vowels from all performers are spread/wide vowels with no resonance.

One or more voice parts sing mostly with choral/Latin vowels, but one or more voice parts sing with mostly spread/wide vowels. Vowels cause a non-unified sound.

Vowels of 3 voice parts are sung with choral/Latin vowels, but one voice part uses wide/spread vowels for most if not all the song.

The ensemble sings with choral/Latin vowels where the jaw is dropped.

All voice parts are clearly heard, with no one voice part standing out and no one voice part getting lost in the noise. Additionally, the ensemble is unified in their expression and communication. The ensemble recognizes what is important in the music and highlights it. The ensemble sings with choral/Latin vowels where the jaw is dropped. In addition, the ensemble unifies their vowels to produce the most unified sound. All vowels are shaped the same way throughout the ensemble.

Graded individually: 1. All verses are performed without anyone stumbling on the words and using correct diction. 2. Each voice part SATB/SAB is clearly heard. 3. Each person is in tune and ensemble is in tune throughout (intonation). 4. Each person knows his or her voice part (notes are accurate). Graded as an ensemble: 5. The ensemble is balanced. 6. The ensemble performs with correct choral vowels.

______/5 ______/5 ______/5 ______/5 ______/5 ______/5 TOTAL: ______/30