What makes a good performance?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify key characteristics that make a performance accurate, fluent, and expressive.
Key learning points
- Good performances balance accuracy, fluency, and expression.
- Pitch and rhythm precision build confidence in a performer.
- Dynamics, tempo and phrasing shape musical character of the piece.
- Self‑assessment and peer discussion help identify strengths and targets to inform our practice.
Keywords
Accuracy - playing the correct notes and rhythms
Fluency - playing smoothly without stopping
Expression - adding feeling and emotion to music
Intonation - how accurately pitches are played or sung in tune
Common misconception
A good performance just means playing all the right notes.
Accuracy is important, but expression, fluency, dynamics and phrasing also make a performance musical and engaging.
Teacher tip
Encourage the pupils to work in pairs to listen to each other, and identify aspects of their performances to improve.
Equipment
Pupils will need access to their instruments.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which element describes how a note or a group of notes are performed?
Q2.What does intonation refer to in music?
Q3.Match the following articulation markings to their sound:
smooth and connected
emphasised
short and detached
held fully
Q4.Which Italian term means fast?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which performer is demonstrating good fluency?
Q2.Which aspect of performance involves communicating mood and character through dynamics, phrasing and articulation?
Q3.Which statement best describes an effective GCSE performance?
Q4.Why might a simpler piece receive higher marks than a harder piece?
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: What makes a good performance?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 music lesson on: What makes a good performance?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 music lessons from the Introduction to performance unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.