Judging Rubrics
Festival Judging Rubrics
Please review the judging rubrics for your students' levels. Print off a copy for your students to use as they practice and review the expectations with them regularly.
Teachers, please participate in the Judging training to help you better understand the rubric and how feedback will be provided. Additionally, please reinforce to students that a good performance will be recognized with an Excellent.
Superior = Student performs well above expectations for their age and level (recital or competition ready performance)
Excellent = Student performs admirably and clearly prepared well (recital ready performance)
Very Good = Student performed well, but had clear mistakes or areas that were not ready for performance, including reading the music during the performance (approaching recital ready)
Good = student presented a performance that was not memorized nor polished
Fair = student presented a performance as if they were sight-reading the piece for the first time.
*** the adjusted expectations to Excellent being the average score (instead of Superior) for participants will NOT negatively impact students expecting recognition this year***
Why update the Judging Sheets to standardized rubrics?
Rubrics are incredible tools for assessment and student learning. The Harp Festival is a learning event, and we want to help students and their teachers understand the feedback and use the feedback to set meaningful and achievable goals. For more information about rubrics, check out this resource (linked here).
Why a simplified rubric for Beginner levels?
The biggest feedback from judges in 2023 was
the complexity of the rubric for beginning students (took longer to give feedback than the musician actually played) and
the difficulty in limiting Superiors as "couldn't be better" is a simple standard for beginning students.
To address feedback #1, we discussed a very simple rubric for beginning feedback where a judge can quickly identify ONE quick point for each major category and ONE goal to help the student progress (not necessarily an improvement goal, but a "I think you're ready to work on [blank] next."). Judges will be asked to provide positive feedback on at least three of the categories and provide suggested goals on at least two of the categories. Judges can always leave additional comments in the space at the bottom.
Beginning levels should be focused on helping students develop performance confidence and set goals. Please note that our recognition program looks for growth after three years/three levels and immediately recognizes students earning Superiors. Beginning students can earn an Excellent in Levels 1-3.
PLEASE NOTE: These rubrics may have slight changes (formatting, specifically) before the festival but will NOT be updated after April 1. The correct rubric will always be found on this page.
Rubric for Levels 1-3
Note the simple feedback. Judges will provide at least 3 highlights (things the student does very well) and provide 2-3 suggested goals. These goals are not necessarily going to be something that was lacking in the performance, rather ideas for next steps for student growth.
TEACHERS: This Rubric is open for comment until March 1. Please open the Google Doc link by clicking here and use the comment feature. Comments will be complied and any appropriate edits made to the rubrics by March 15.
Rubric for Levels 4 through 12+
Students in these levels are performing more complex pieces where musicianship and expression through dynamics and tone are increasingly more important. Notice the specific rubric requirements for students in these levels.
TEACHERS: This Rubric is open for comment until March 1. Please open the Google Doc link included here and use the comment feature. Comments will be complied and any appropriate edits made to the rubrics by March 15.
Rubric for Special Category - Concerto [COMING SOON]
Students performing concertos will be assessed on their performance and musicianship as well as their ability to work with an accompanist. Please see the Concerto Category page for more information on this category.
TEACHERS: This Rubric is open for comment until March 1. Please open the Google Doc link included here and use the comment feature. Comments will be complied and any appropriate edits made to the rubrics by March 15.
Rubric for Special Category - Chamber Music [COMING SOON]
Students performing in this cateogry will receive feedback on their stage presence, accuracy, musicianship, etc but the feedback will focus more specifically on the group's cohesive performance. Please see the Special Category page for more information on this category.
TEACHERS: This Rubric is open for comment until March 1. Please open the Google Doc link included here and use the comment feature. Comments will be complied and any appropriate edits made to the rubrics by March 15.
Rubric for Special Category - Harp Ensemble [COMING SOON]
Students performing in this cateogry will NOT receive feedback on their individual stage presence, accuracy, musicianship, etc but the feedback will focus more specifically on the group's cohesive performance. Please see the Special Category page for more information on this category.
TEACHERS: This Rubric is open for comment until March 1. Please open the Google Doc link included here and use the comment feature. Comments will be complied and any appropriate edits made to the rubrics by March 15.