Composition – Melody and Soundscape

Few or no symbols are drawn neatly. The paper is nearly impossible to read.

Some symbols are drawn neatly. About half of the symbols are easy to read, while the others are not.

Most symbols are drawn neatly. A few may be hard to read.

All symbols are drawn neatly. All are clear and easy to read.

Most of the lines are inaccurate. There are many errors with the stem directions, beams, and spacing. This makes the staff paper very difficult to read.

Some lines are accurately completed. Most practice lines have multiple errors. Some of the stems are on the correct side of the notes, and some of the beams are in the right direction.

Most lines are accurately completed. The practice lines have some errors. The stems are mostly on the correct side of the notes, and the beams are mostly in the right direction.

All lines are accurately completed, including the practice lines. The stems are on the correct side of the notes, the beams are in the right directions, and each symbol takes up the correct amount of space on the staff.

Fewer than three lines are completed on the staff paper.

Three to five lines are completed on the staff paper.

Five or six of the lines are completed on the staff paper.

All seven lines of the staff paper are completed.

Notes are written in a sloppy and illegible manner. Barline placement is not correct. Line and space notes are indistinguishable from each other.

Notes are written clearly, but barline placement is often incorrect. The difference between line and space notes is not easily seen.

Most notes are written clearly using the proper barline placement. The difference between line and spaces notes is fairly clear.

All notes are written neatly using proper barline placement. The difference between line and space notes is easily seen.

Less than 50% of the measures have the correct number of beats.

Between 50% and 70% of the measures have the correct number of beats. Rhythms are very basic and do not expand beyond quarter notes.

Between 70% and 85% of the measures have the correct number of beats, and a variety of rhythms are used.

More than 85% of the measures have the correct number of beats, and a variety of rhythms are used.

The composition was not complete and very difficult to read. Less than half of the required elements were included.

The composition was very basic and somewhat legible. At least half of the required elements were included.

The composition was somewhat creative and legible. Most of the required elements were included.

The composition was creative, clean, easy to read, and included all required elements.

Student does not reference her/his composition when answering the questions. Answers to parts of questions are missing. Responses are too short.

Student seldom references her/his composition when answering the questions. Responses may be short and lack detail.

Student mostly references her/his composition when answering the questions. Responses are a good enough to properly answer the question, but may lack detail.

Student clearly references her/his composition when answering the questions. Responses are thorough.

Fewer than three questions are completed.

Three or four questions are completed.

Five or six questions are completed.

All questions are completed fully.

The soundscape is nothing like the student’s composition as described in the brainstorm.

The soundscape has elements that are like the student’s composition described in the brainstorm. However, there may be some gaps between the student’s plan and the final product.

The soundscape is similar to the student’s composition as described in the brainstorm.

The soundscape accurately represents the student’s composition as described in the brainstorm.

Student does not record a soundscape

Student records a soundscape, but it is very short or shows minimal effort.

Student records a soundscape that shows thought and effort.

Student records a soundscape that demonstrates thought, effort, and extraordinary creativity.

Student does not reference her or his composition when answering the questions. Answers to parts of questions are missing. Responses are too short.

Student seldom references his or her composition when answering the questions. Responses may be short and lack detail, but all parts of the questions are answered.

Student mostly references his or her composition when answering the questions. Responses are lengthy enough to properly answer the question but may lack detail.

Student clearly references his or her composition when answering the questions. Responses are thorough.

Only one question is completed.

Two questions are completed.

Three questions are completed.

All four questions are completed.