M.T422

Duets and Trios

Students will be divided into duets and trios. The teacher may assign the students to groups or allow them to select their own groups. After students receive directions, they will be given their piece of music to rehearse for the next four weeks. The music (chosen and prepared by the teacher) should: (1) be unfamiliar to the students, (2) be two to three minutes in length, (3) include at least one tempo change, and (4) be appropriate for a third- or fourth-year (Level 3) student.

Students will also keep a log of their practice schedule and a weekly journal of the their progress in their Student Booklets. The teacher will review the logs and journals on a weekly basis.

At the end of the four weeks, each duet and trio will record his or her performance of the assigned piece. All students will also complete a written reflection of the experience based on their journal and practice log. This reflective piece will not be scored but is part of the requirement for this assessment.

The teacher may wish to arrange with a colleague, parent, or senior student to set up the recording space and monitor the recording process. This includes logging in the students, providing the directions, operating the recording equipment, and logging the recording timer information.

This item has been voluntarily field-tested by Michigan teachers with a non-representative sample of students.

Teacher Booklet

Download PDF Download Word Doc

Student Booklet

Download PDF Download Word Doc

This is an analytic rubric. The column on the left shows the dimension that is being measured in the student’s performance. The levels across the top row indicate the performance level in the dimensions. Occasionally all dimensions and performance levels are exemplified by multiple students in a single recording.

TEACHER SCORING RUBRIC

  • Dimension

  • Individual Preparation

    Pitch Accuracy

  • Individual Preparation

    Accuracy of Rhythmic Durations

  • Ensemble Tone Quality

    Blend

  • Ensemble Tone Quality

    Balance

  • Ensemble Intonation

    Pitch Matching

  • Ensemble Rhythm

    Tempo Control

  • Ensemble Rhythm

    Meter

  • Ensemble Rhythm

    Accuracy of Durations

  • Ensemble Rhythm

    Alignment

  • Ensemble Technique

    Pitch Accuracy

  • Ensemble Technique

    Fluency

  • Ensemble Technique

    Individual Articulation

  • Ensemble Technique

    Articulation Alignment

  • Ensemble Interpretation

    Dynamics

  • Ensemble Interpretation

    Tempo

  • Ensemble Interpretation

    Style and/or Expression Markings

  • Ensemble Interpretation

    Ensemble Alignment

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

  • Tonality is established/beginning pitch is accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Stepwise diatonic pitches are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Skips and arpeggios are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • All pitches are accurate, including chromatic pitches.

    N/A at this time.

  • Beat level/macrobeat patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Division patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Elongation patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • All patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tone qualities match at the beginning and end of the piece.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tone qualities match in passages with modest technical or range demands.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tone qualities match in all but the most demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tone qualities match throughout the performance.

    N/A at this time.

  • The parts are not balanced for a majority of the performance.

    N/A at this time.

  • The parts are balanced in passages with modest technical or range demands.

    N/A at this time.

  • The parts are balanced in all but the most demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • The parts are balanced throughout the performance.

    N/A at this time.

  • The beginning and ending pitches are matched.

    N/A at this time.

  • Pitches within comfortable ranges for dynamics, tessitura, and technical difficulty are matched.

    N/A at this time.

  • Pitches extending to more challenging ranges for dynamics, tessitura, and technical difficulty are matched.

    N/A at this time.

  • Pitches are accurately matched throughout the entire performance.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tempo is not initially consistent.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tempo is initially consistent, but the tempo change is not unified.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tempo is consistent with the exception of technically demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tempo is consistent throughout.

    N/A at this time.

  • Meter is not established.

    N/A at this time.

  • Meter is initially established.

    N/A at this time.

  • Meter is maintained with the exception of technically demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Meter is maintained throughout.

    N/A at this time.

  • Beat level/macrobeat patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Division patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Elongation patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • All patterns are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Beginning and ending rhythms are aligned.

    N/A at this time.

  • Rhythms are initially aligned, but the tempo change reveals alignment problems.

    N/A at this time.

  • Rhythms are aligned with the exception of technically demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Rhythms are aligned throughout.

    N/A at this time.

  • Tonality is established/beginning pitch is accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Stepwise diatonic pitches are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • Skips and arpeggios are accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • All pitches are accurate, including chromatic pitches.

    N/A at this time.

  • Students are able to finish the piece.

    N/A at this time.

  • Fluency flaws occur in technically modest passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Fluency flaws occur only in technically demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • There are very few or no fluency flaws.

    N/A at this time.

  • The beginnings of notes are articulated properly; for vocalists, diction is clear only in the simplest passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Slurs are correctly executed; for vocalists, diction is clear in technically modest passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • In addition to correct slurring, staccato and accent marks are correctly executed; for vocalists, diction is clear except for the most demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • All articulation markings are correctly executed; diction is clear throughout.

    N/A at this time.

  • Unarticulated notes match in style, length, and diction.

    N/A at this time.

  • Slurs match in attack, smoothness, and release; diction matches in technically modest passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • In addition to correct slurring, staccato and accented notes match in style and length; diction matches except for the most demanding passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • All articulations match in style and length throughout; diction matches throughout.

    N/A at this time.

  • Dynamic level remains the same throughout the performance.

    N/A at this time.

  • Broad dynamics are performed accurately, but crescendi/ decrescendi are not consistently observed.

    N/A at this time.

  • Extreme changes in volume and crescendi/ decrescendi are performed accurately, but more subtle changes are indistinguishable.

    N/A at this time.

  • All changes in volume are performed accurately; subtle changes are distinguished.

    N/A at this time.

  • The indicated tempo is not accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • The opening tempo is accurate, but subsequent tempo changes are not accurate.

    N/A at this time.

  • All major tempo changes are accurate, but flexible tempo changes (e.g. accelerando, ritardando) are not distinguishable.

    N/A at this time.

  • All tempo changes are performed accurately.

    N/A at this time.

  • Expression markings are not consistently observed.

    N/A at this time.

  • Elementary level markings such as slurs and staccato marks are performed.

    N/A at this time.

  • All expression markings are performed, but the performance does not demonstrate a deeper understanding of stylistic traditions.

    N/A at this time.

  • All expression markings are performed, and the performance demonstrates an understanding of stylistic traditions, such as performing unwritten notes or dynamics, adjustment of tone quality, adjustment of tempos, etc.

    N/A at this time.

  • Expression matches only in the simplest passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Expression matches in passages of modest technical difficulty.

    N/A at this time.

  • Expression matches in all but the most challenging passages.

    N/A at this time.

  • Expression matches throughout the performance.

    N/A at this time.
Having trouble viewing videos?

Leave Feedback for this Assessment


What did you like? Did you need to revise anything? How could we make this assessment better?
Our Assessments are written by teachers for you, so your feedback is important to us!

Comments about items may be moderated and/or reposted in the blogs to aid item improvement and teacher learning. By leaving a comment, you agree that we can use your comment without attributing it to you.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with all of our assessments.

Sign Up Now!