91417 - SECOND INSTRUMENT 3

EXEMPLARS OF STUDENT WORK

EXCELLENCE EXEMPLAR

For Excellence, the student needs to perform a programme of music convincingly as a featured soloist on a second instrument.

This involves an assured and musically expressive performance that demonstrates interpretive understanding.

This student’s performances on electric guitar are convincing. There is musical understanding and expression, appropriate and fluent improvisation, and an assuredness brought about by a well-prepared and crafted performance.

For a more secure Excellence, the student could connect fully with the audience by exhibiting a more open stage presence (possibly standing) to allow the performance to be fully assured.

MERIT EXEMPLAR

For Merit, the student needs to perform a programme of music effectively as a featured soloist on a second instrument.

This involves a technically secure performance that is stylistically appropriate and confidently communicated to the audience.

This vocal student has performed a programme of musically committed and generally technically secure performances. There is clear understanding of the genre, making the programme stylistically appropriate. The songs are confidently communicated to the audience.

To reach Excellence, the student could secure their tonal control, which sometimes affects tuning, to enable their performances to be fully convincing.

MERIT EXEMPLAR

For Merit, the student needs to perform a programme of music effectively as a featured soloist on a second instrument.

This involves a technically secure performance that is stylistically appropriate and confidently communicated to the audience.

This student has performed a programme of music on saxophone which demonstrates evidence of effective work, with secure technical skills, stylistic understanding, and confident communication.

For a more secure Merit, the student could overcome some of the technical challenges, maintain rhythmic accuracy and sense of pulse together with demonstrating a more secure connection with the accompaniment. Being at ease in the performances would also allow more a confidently communicated and fully effective musical programme.

ACHIEVED EXEMPLAR

For Achieved, the student needs to perform a programme of music as a featured soloist on a second instrument.

This involves presenting music to a live audience. The performance demonstrates technical, musical, and presentation skills appropriate to students in at least their fifth year of instrumental study through group itinerant tuition. Each piece of music is of sufficient length to demonstrate these skills.

This student performs on drum-kit a piece in 5/4 metre which demonstrates varied stylistic demands and appropriate challenges for this curriculum level. A reasonable variety of patterns and kit use demonstrate technical and presentation skills that are stylistically appropriate.

To reach Merit, the student could iron out any beat slips to demonstrate more precision and secure technical skills. More dynamic variety to ensure musical light and shade, together with fully secure rhythmic patterns would allow the performance to be effective and move into the Merit range.