Hello, and welcome to today's lesson.

I'm Ms. Mansall, and I'm gonna be your teacher for today.

Let's get started.

Today's lesson outcome is I can analyze a keyboard performance, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and I can improve the accuracy of my own performance.

Let's look at some keywords for today's lesson.

Accuracy, that's how effectively a performance uses the correct pitches, rhythms, and performance directions.

Fluency, that's how effectively a performance flows without interruption or hesitation.

Intonation, that's the tuning of notes.

If a performer has good intonation, it means that the notes are not out of tune.

Today's lesson on solo keyboard performance is in two parts.

Part one is analyzing a solo keyboard performance, and part two is creating an accurate performance.

Let's get started with part one, analyzing a solo keyboard performance.

When preparing a performance, it is important to continually analyze it to identify areas for improvement.

This analysis can focus on accuracy, which means playing correct notes, creating a fluent performance, and following performance directions.

Technical control, so technique, intonation, and tone quality.

And interpretation, so that's using stylistic features, creating an engaging performance, and communicating well.

Let's apply this by analyzing a solo piano performance, focusing on its strengths and areas for improvement.

Listen to this performance and follow the score.

Which aspects are particularly effective?

Are there any areas for improvement?

Consider the accuracy, technical control, and interpretation.

So have a listen to that performance now.

So the performer mostly plays accurately in this performance.

The articulation is accurate throughout with the performer paying close attention to staccato and legato notes.

At one point, we can hear some incorrect notes.

Have a listen.

This section is less fluent with the tempo slightly fluctuating.

You can listen to that.

While they use dynamics, at some points, they aren't completely accurate.

Compare this audio to the score.

How could this be made more accurate?

Have a listen and look at the score.

You'll notice that the crescendo should be more gradual.

At the moment, the forte dynamic is played very suddenly, so that gradual change is the level of accuracy to aim for with dynamics.

Which description does this performance fit best?

So does it have high, medium, or low accuracy?

So let's have a look at the descriptors.

For high, we're looking for accurate pitch and rhythm with very minor slips, not affecting fluency, and an accurate use of performance directions.

For medium, we are looking for mostly accurate pitch and rhythm, with some noticeable errors slightly affecting the fluency.

And mostly accurate use of performance directions with some inaccuracies.

And then low accuracy would look like many inaccurate pictures and rhythms and the performance lacks fluency and little or no use of performance directions.

So which description fits this performance best?

The performance probably best fits the medium description.

The performance isn't completely fluent, and in particular, the use of performance directions is not totally accurate.

To improve it, the performer could practice the sections with the inaccurate notes to make them more fluent and pay particular attention to playing the dynamic changes correctly.

This performer generally has good tone quality with consistent playing between both hands.

There are one or two moments when the tone is inconsistent with certain notes sticking out.

Can you hear two notes that stick out in the melody here?

Have a listen.

Overall, the sound has a clear tone and confident projection.

Listen to this clip.

Although the dynamics are fairly quiet, the melody is well projected and played confidently.

So thinking about intonation that's playing the notes in tune is an important aspect of technical control.

However, on a piano, the performer does not have control of the intonation, so this criteria isn't relevant for this example.

So for technical control, which description does this performance fit best?

Is it high, medium, or low?

Notice that we're not using the criteria for intonation here.

So for high, we are looking for consistently good technique, consistently good tone quality, and that the sound is well projected.

For medium, it would look like some inconsistent technique, that it includes some moments of lower tone quality and that the sound is mostly well projected.

And for low, it would be very inconsistent technique, many moments of low tone quality and limited projection of sound.

So which description do you think fits this performance best?

This performance best fits the high description.

The technique, tone quality and projection are all good, and intonation is not relevant.

The one or two inconsistencies in tone are minor and do not have a big impact on the overall performance.

To improve, the performer could focus on creating a very consistent tone quality throughout the entire performance.

This is an example of a classical period composition, and the performer plays it in an appropriate style with subtle phrasing, a clear melody and good use of contrast.

Can you hear those features in this clip?

Have a listen.

This creates an engaging and interesting performance that communicates the music effectively to the audience.

When analyzing interpretation, we also consider how the performer communicates with other ensemble members.

In this solo performance, this criteria is not relevant.

So which description does this performance fit best?

Does it have a high, medium, or low level of interpretation?

And notice here, as we said, we've removed the ensemble criteria.

So a high level of interpretation looks like it shows good understanding of style and is an engaging performance.

For medium, it shows some understanding of the style and has many engaging moments.

And low demonstrates little understanding of the style and the performance fails to engage the audience.

So which description fits this performance best?

This performance probably best fits the high description.

The player plays effectively for the style, creating an engaging performance.

They could have made it even more engaging by creating greater contrast between sections and making the phrasing even more expressive.

In summary, this is a strong performance overall.

It has a medium level of accuracy with a few minor errors, slightly affecting the fluency, the performance and inconsistent use of dynamics.

It has a high level of technical control with mostly good technique, tone quality and projection.

It has a high level of interpretation with a good understanding of the style, creating an engaging performance.

We have identified a number of next steps that this performer could work on to further improve the performance.

Let's do a check for understanding.

What is fluency?

Pause and have a think.

Fluency is how effectively a performance flows without interruption or hesitation.

So let's do task A.

Listen to the whole performance following the score.

Write a paragraph identifying its strengths and detailing next steps to help this performer further improve.

Have a listen to the performance now and write to your paragraph.

How did you get on?

For your paragraph, you could have included strengths like good accuracy of pitches, articulation and rhythms, good tone quality and projection, stylistic playing and an engaging performance.

For the next steps, you might have included improving the accuracy and fluency of the inaccurate section, improving the accuracy of dynamics, ensuring that the tempo is consistent throughout, and ensuring that the tone quality is totally consistent.

Let's move on to part two of our lesson, creating an accurate performance.

Reflect on the performance that you are currently working on.

Which accuracy description do you think currently fits it best?

Remember, we're looking at high, medium, and low criteria.

Which one do you think fits your performance?

Accuracy is one of the easier elements of a performance to improve.

Start by identifying any sections where you are playing wrong pitches or rhythms.

Practice these sections slowly and methodically to improve the accuracy.

Then, consider if there are any sections that lack fluency.

Usually, this is a result of being less confident with the notes in these sections.

Practice these parts slowly until you have the muscle memory to play them more fluently.

Finally, consider performance directions.

Are there any that you have missed or played inaccurately?

Practice these sections focusing on correct dynamics, articulation, and any other directions in the music.

Which of these is a common reason for a section to lack fluency?

Is it A, the performer is not yet confident playing the notes.

B, the piece is too difficult for the performer.

Or C, the performer has practiced the section too much.

So A, B, or C?

Well done if you said A.

A common reason for a section to like fluency is because the performer is not yet confident playing the notes.

Let's look at task B.

Develop the accuracy of your performance.

Use the steps to make your performance match the high level of accuracy.

So identify sections with wrong pitches or rhythms and practice these slowly and methodically.

Identify sections that lack fluency.

Practice these slowly until you're confident and can play them fluently.

Check performance directions such as dynamics and articulation and focus on playing these correctly.

And here's a reminder of those accuracy criteria, and we're aiming for the high accuracy.

Pause the video and go and practice your piece now.

How did you get on with your practicing?

Reflect on your performance.

Answer the questions below to help you identify ways to further improve.

Which level of accuracy would you say your performance fits?

Have you asked for a second opinion on the accuracy of your performance?

Are there any sections where you still play incorrect pitches or rhythms?

Is your performance fluent?

Does it flow seamlessly with a consistent tempo and without interruption or hesitation?

Do you understand what all of the performance directions mean?

Are there any performance directions that you don't yet follow perfectly.

Let's summarize today's lesson.

Analyzing performances is a very useful way for performers to develop their playing.

We can analyze different aspects which can be grouped into accuracy, technical control, and interpretation.

Playing pitches, rhythms, and performance directions accurately helps to create affluent effective performance.

Using the correct practice strategies can help to improve these.

Thank you for joining me for today's lesson.