Thomas Graham

Woodwind Techniques
Sample Rubrics
Individual playing test rubric

Tone

4
Excellent,
consistent
sound

3
Good sound,
but lacking
in focus

2
Fair sound,
but lacking
in projection
and clarity

1
Weak tone,
unsupported

Technique

All or almost A few pitch

all notes
errors
played
accurately

Numerous
pitch errors

Significant pitch
errors

Rhythm

All or almost A few

all rhythms
rhythmic
played
errors
accurately

Numerous
rhythmic
errors

Significant rhythm
errors

Tempo

Steady and
appropriate
tempo

Slightly
unsteady
tempo

Incorrect
and/or
unsteady
tempo

Very noticeably
incorrect/unsteady
tempo

Articulation

Articulation
marking are
meticulously
followed

Marking are
generally
followed,
but attacks
are not solid

Few markings are

followed and few
attacks are confident

Dynamics

Dynamic
levels are
consistent
and accurate
to the
printed
music
Convincing
and
consistent

Articulations
are usually
consistent,
with an
occasional
isolated
error
Dynamics
levels are
usually
consistent
and accurate

Dynamic
levels
fluctuate but
are still
perceivable

Dynamic levels are

not obvious

Usually
performs
with a

Sometimes
performs
with a fairly

Rarely goes beyond

the printed page to
create music

Expression
and Style

sense of
style
Posture

Consistently
correct
posture

consistent
sense of
style
Slightly
inconsistent
or incorrect
posture

consistent
sense of
style
Inconsistent
or incorrect
posture

Poor posture

Comments/Suggestions:
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Duet/Small ensemble rubric
Tempo

Balance

4
Steady and
appropriate
tempo,
students are
actively
listening to
each other

3
Slightly
unsteady
tempo,
students
usually
actively
listen to each
other

2
Incorrect
and/or
unsteady
tempo,
students
sometimes
actively listen
to each other

1
Very noticeably
incorrect/unsteady
tempo, students
almost never
actively listen to
each other

Both parts are

balanced for
the entire duet

Both parts
are balanced
during most
of the duet
Students
match
articulation
most of the
time

Both parts are

balanced
during some
of the duet
Students
sometimes
match
articulation

Both parts are

almost never
balanced

Articulation/Style Students are

matching
articulation
consistently

Students almost
never march
articulation

Comments/Suggestions:
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Notation rubric
Pitches

Rhythms

Bass line

Articulations

Dynamics

4
Almost all
pitches are
notated
correctly
Almost all
rhythms are
notated
correctly
Bass line makes
sense aurally
and
theoretically

3
Most pitches
are notated
correctly
Most rhythms
are notated
correctly

Bass line makes

sense aurally
and, most of the
time,
theoretically
Articulations
Articulations
make logical
make logical
sense
sense most of
the time
Dynamics make Dynamics make
logical sense
logical sense
most of the time

2
Some pitches
are notated
correctly

1
Almost no
pitches are
notated
correctly
Some rhythms
Almost no
are notated
rhythms are
correctly
notated
correctly
Bass line makes Bass line does
some sense
not make sense
aurally and
aurally or
some sense
theoretically
theoretically
Articulations
Articulations
make logical
do not make
sense some of
logical sense
the time
Dynamics make Dynamics do
logical sense
not make
some of the
logical sense
time

Comments/Suggestions:
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