Grading & Attendance
Grading Criteria:
Concerts, assemblies, festivals, adjudications, out-call performances all have a potential 30 point possible.
- Non-participation in a concert, assemblies, festivals, adjudications, or out-call performances without proper excuse will result in a loss of 30 points.
- Non-participation in an individual hearing will be able to be made up after appropriate time for the student to catch up following the illness or conflict. There will be no loss of points.
Individual hearings will be held regularly to determine accurately a student’s current performance product, where their abilities relative to proper pitch, tone, and rhythm will be carefully evaluated on a 30-point possible standard.
- The evaluation includes a 10-point possible rating in each of the three categories listed above, for a maximum possible or 30 points.
- The grading is done on a product-oriented basis, not a curve, which gives each student an absolute standard to compare their progress, and unlimited opportunity to develop based upon consistent and purposeful practice routines.
The grading procedure is listed immediately below, and is applied to each of the three categories – Pitch, Tone, and Rhythm
a) 10 – 9 = no noticeable weakness, occasional but slight refinement possible, but performance is of high quality, and without question ready for public display.
b) 8 – 8.9 = generally acceptable playing, with noticeable need for some attention in several spots that would affect a performance negatively.
c) 7 – 7.9 = frequent and obvious faults, with definite interruptions that would jeopardize an entire performance.
d) Less than 6 points in any category is unacceptable. Make up necessary.
Comments are provided immediately for each student to review in order to remedy those areas of greatest concern. Verbal feedback is given following the hearing to reinforce the more critical aspects of the hearing, including highpoints, which further reinforces the student’s perception for what is highly valued by the instructor for their particular development.
Attendance at all sectionals and scheduled concerts appearing on the school calendar are mandatory unless a family emergency or illness precludes participation in those scheduled events.
Whenever students have received a written addendum to their calendar with at least a two-week advance notice, those items will also become mandatory.
Absence from any scheduled events. i.e. sectionals, concerts, festivals, etc. will result in the loss of all points associated with that particular event.
Absence, without appropriate excuse, from a sectional will result in the loss of the 5 points possible for participation.
Daily participation criterion is listed immediately below
After the tardy bell has rung, each student will be seated and prepared to commence tuning and begin warm-ups.
Failure to Participate = 5-point loss
Disruptive Behavior = 5-point loss
Unexcused tardiness = 10-point loss
Progress grades, semester and final grades are determined by the average of the individual hearing tests, concert scores, participation and attendance points from sectionals.
The number of points which were lost due to late arrivals, non-attendance at sectionals, concerts, assemblies, festivals, adjudications, and out-call programs are deducted from the total points achieved prior to the averaging process.
