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Mu5 Analyzing/Evaluating

Analyzing and evaluating music are fundamental listening skills which musicians use to explore different musical experiences. Analyzing and evaluating skills develop through the practice of focused listening and the habit of analysis. Analysis can include reflection upon someone else’s performance or a performance of their own.

Mu5a The student will analyze the dynamic changes by listening to a performance and then produce a representation of those changes by using standard and/or non-standard notational systems. Appropriate musical vocabulary should be incorporated into the description.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of analyzing dynamic changes include:

• Create a graph that represents dynamic changes over time. On the x axis include a scale from 1 to 10 that represents volume from the softest to the loudest. On the y axis graph out time (the length of the song or section of music being analyzed). Plot how dynamics change through the song.
• Create a sketch chart of a song which includes labeling the sections of the song, the length of each section, and their dynamic levels. Include any gradual changes in dynamic levels by using appropriate symbols or terms.

Mu5b The student will identify instruments used in an unfamiliar recording by name, sub-family, and/or family.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of identifying instruments include:

• Listen to a recording and list the types of instruments used by family (i.e. percussion, wind, strings, etc.).
• Listen to a recording and list the names of each instrument used (i.e. recorder, violin, cello, tympani, etc.)

Mu5c The student will be able to listen to and identify form (i.e. AB/binary, ABA/ternary, AABA, canon/round, theme and variation, etc.) of a particular piece of music.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of identifying the musical form include:

• Listen to a recording of “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington and identify each section of the song and its basic form.
• Listen to a recording of “Piano Sonata in Bb Major” K. 333 by Mozart and identify the song form.
  

Mu5d The student will be able to identify the role of various instruments within a particular style or genre of music by identifying harmonic, melodic, and/or rhythmic elements.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of identifying the roles of various instruments include:

• Listening to the bass lines in Merengue and identifying the basic pattern that all bassists play.
• Listen to Boogie-woogie pianists and identify the general characteristics of that style of playing.

Mu5e The student will evaluate their performance and/or the performance of others by being given or developing criteria.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of evaluating performances include:

• Review a recording of yourself and rate it according to a teacher generated performance rubric.
• Have ensemble members discuss what makes a good performance and then generate a rubric of their own meeting those criteria. Then have the ensemble evaluate a recent performance.
• Attend a concert and evaluate the performance according to a rubric. Present and defend your evaluation.

Mu5f The student will be able to identify melodic devices or techniques (i.e. the 5 species of Counterpoint, repetition, etc.) through listening.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of identifying melodic techniques include:

• Listening to an Art Tatum solo and identifying all the instances of sequence within the solo.

Mu5g The student will prepare and conduct a piece of music showing appropriate analysis of dynamics, tempo markings, articulation markings, time signatures, and cueing of various entrances.

Examples of activities through which students might produce evidence of conducting include:

• The student listens to and reviews a score of Vivaldi’s “Winter” from the “Four Seasons” and conducts while being videotaped. The videotape should be reviewed and analyzed by the instructor and the student for appropriate conducting techniques.

Proposed Standards: