M.E211

Comparing and Contrasting Performances

Students will watch two different video recordings of choral performances of the same piece. One will be their performance, and the other will be a performance by a professional choral ensemble. While watching the videos, students will fill in a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the two performances. Students will then analyze and reflect on the two performances in writing.

It is important that the teacher has modeled this activity in a previous class. Students will use a Venn diagram to guide an essay comparing and contrasting two performances. Students should be familiar with watching and analyzing performances while completing a Venn diagram.

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


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
  • Similar Features of Performances

  • Differing Features of Performances

  • Use of Terminology

  • Depth of Reflection

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Student does not describe similar features of the performances.

    N/A at this time.
  • Student shows some ability to describe similar features of the performances.

    View Exemplar
  • Student shows considerable ability to describe similar features of the performances.

    View Exemplar
  • Student thoroughly and thoughtfully describes similar features of the performances.

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  • Student does not describe differing features of the performances.

    N/A at this time.
  • Student shows some ability to describe differing features of the performances.

    View Exemplar
  • Student shows considerable ability to describe differing features of the performances.

    View Exemplar
  • Student thoroughly and thoughtfully describes differing features of the performances.

    View Exemplar
  • Student uses little or no music vocabulary.

    N/A at this time.
  • Student uses some music vocabulary with accuracy.

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  • Student uses a rich music vocabulary with one or two inaccuracies of meaning.

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  • Student uses a rich music vocabulary with accuracy.

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  • Student shows little ability to reflect on the two performances.

    N/A at this time.
  • Student shows some ability to reflect on the two performances.

    View Exemplars
    View Exemplars
  • Student shows considerable ability to reflect on the two performances.

    View Exemplar
  • Student thoroughly and thoughtfully reflects on the two performances.

    View Exemplar
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