Assessment Criteria – Popular Songwriting Artist Level

DISTINCTION

MERIT

PASS

BELOW PASS

Inventiveness and Originality

  • High level of originality
  • Outstanding creativity and inventiveness
  • Creativity combined with musical flair and integrity
Inventiveness and Originality

  • Chiefly original and evidence of creativity
  • Inventiveness used effectively
  • Widely apparent and effective use of musicality

Inventiveness and Originality

  • Some originality
  • Some use of inventiveness
  • Appropriate musicality
  • Moderately inventive
Inventiveness and Originality

  • Very little or no evidence of originality
  • Lacking in inventiveness

Vocal Harmony

  • Highly effective use of vocal harmony
  • Expert and masterly arrangement of vocal parts
Vocal Harmony

  • Effective use of vocal harmony
  • Accomplished arranging of vocal parts
Vocal Harmony

  • Mostly effective use of vocal harmony
  • Reasonable level of arranging vocal parts
  • Evidence of an understanding of vocal arranging

Vocal Harmony

  • Ineffective use of vocal harmony
  • Little or no evidence of arranging for vocal parts/harmony
  • Very limited use of vocal harmony
Application of Instrumentation

  • Outstanding proficient use and variety of instrumentation
  • Highly accomplished and effective use of all instrumentation
  • Musical and tasteful selection of all instrumentation
  • Supremely effective intro /outro and instrument breaks

Application of Instrumentation

  • Proficient use and variety of instrumentation
  • Mostly effective use and selection of instrumentation
  • Proficient use of intro / outro and instrumental breaks

Application of Instrumentation

  • Limited variety and complexity of both instrumental backing and instrumentation
  • Reasonable standard of intro / outro and instrumental breaks
Application of Instrumentation

  • Ineffective instrumentation
  • Little variety in the choice, selection of instruments
  • Lacking in contrast and music integrity
  • Elementary or unsuitable use of intro / outro and instrumental breaks

Discussion of Composition

  • Highly detailed discussion
  • Evidence of initial workings for all songs
  • Authoritative and technically correct
Discussion of Composition

  • Mostly proficient discussion outlining preferred / used methods of composition
  • Some evidence of initial workings for all songs
Discussion of Composition

  • A reasonable ability to communicate personal methods used preferred method composition
  • Partial, basic evidence of initial workings
Discussion of Composition

  • Inability to communicate personal methods of preferred methods of composition
  • Very basic, elementary initial workings
  • No initial workings offered or provided
  • No evidence of technical knowledge

Transcription

  • A full, accurate and precise transcription
  • Musically accurate transcription
  • Masterly use of musical theory
Transcription

  • A mostly full and detailed transcription
  • Mostly accurate
  • Proficient use of musical theory
  • Moderately accurate
Transcription

  • Transcription lacking in detail
  • Some inaccuracies
  • Reasonable level of applied musical theory
Transcription

  • Incomplete transcription
  • High level of inaccuracies
  • Poor/little evidence of music theory