iRubric: Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra Playing Test Rubric

No obvious sense of pulse. Rhythms are incorrect. Music is not recognizable. Needs individual attention.

Inconsistent pulse. May be slowing down due to lack of preparation of the part. May have a tendency to rush. Many rhythms are incorrect.

Basic sense of pulse. Some rhythms are incorrect, but they do not detract from the overall musical impression.

Strong sense of pulse. All rhythms performed accurately. Rhythms are performed as they were written on the page.

Bowings and articulations are consistently ignored. No sense of appropriate bow use and distribution. Needs individual attention.

Bowings are articulations are correct some of the time. Bow use and distribution need improvement.

Most bowings and articulations are observed. Distribution and use of the bow is usually appropriate for the style of the music.

All bowings and articulations are correct. Distribution and use of bow is appropriate for the style of the music.

Playing is tentative with a weak tone. Bow contact point and right arm weight is not appropriate for the style and dynamics of the piece. Needs individual attention.

A resonant tone has not been developed or is inconsistent. Correct bow contact point and arm weight need improvement.

Tone is usually confident and resonant. Right arm weight or bow contact point is mostly effective. Correct vibrato motion is attempted (8th grade only.)

Tone is confident and resonant. Bow contact point and right arm weight are excellent. Correct vibrato can be heard as well as seen (8th grade only.)