Piano Department Performance Week Judging Information
Faculty Judges’ Expectations
- Respectful performance attire
- Music scores for General and Certificate Juries (If printed sheet music is used, please organize them in a binder)
- A confident manner
- Good posture and comfortable position at the piano
- A thoughtful performance (take time before you start)
- A well-prepared, polished program
- Playing that is expressive and tells a story
- Playing that is stylistically appropriate
- Respect for details in the music: tempo, dynamics, articulation and structure
- A steady beat and correct rhythm
- A clear melody over a supportive accompaniment
- Clean pedaling (if used)
- Continuous playing, even if errors occur, in the prepared program and sight reading
General and Adult Jury Grading
| Technique/Repertoire | Sightreading | |
| Distinction* | Outstanding musicianship, technique, memory. | Fluent sight reading with minimal rhythm/note error. Excellent musical details. |
| Merit | Very well-prepared, artistic presentation, but not consistently outstanding. | Mostly fluent sight reading with some rhythm/note errors. |
| Commendable | Adequately prepared. | Lack of pulse with some stops and start-overs and/or significant errors such as key signature, notes, rhythm |
| Satisfactory | Inconsistently prepared. | Lack of pulse, frequent stops and start-overs, and/or major inaccuracies. |
| Needs Work | Poorly prepared program | Poor sightreading |
* Students who receive Distinction will be invited to perform in a showcase recital.
Certificate Jury Grading
| Technique/Repertoire | Sightreading | |
| Distinction* | Outstanding musicianship, technique, memory. | Fluent sight reading with minimal rhythm/note error. Excellent musical details. |
| Merit | Very well-prepared, artistic presentation, but not consistently outstanding. | Mostly fluent sight reading with some rhythm/note errors. |
| Pass | Adequately but inconsistently prepared presentation. | Lack of pulse with some stops and start-overs and/or significant errors such as key signature, notes, rhythm |
| Not Pass |
Poorly-prepared presentation with many weak areas. | Poor sightreading. |
* Students who receive Distinction will be invited to perform in a showcase recital.