Solo keyboard performance
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse a keyboard performance, identifying strengths and areas for improvement and I can improve the accuracy of my own performance.
Key learning points
- Analysing performances is a very useful way for performers to develop their playing.
- We can analyse different aspects, which can be grouped into accuracy, technical control and interpretation.
- Playing pitches, rhythms and performance directions accurately helps to create a fluent, effective performance.
- Using the correct practice strategies can help to improve these.
Keywords
Accuracy - how effectively a performance uses the correct pitches, rhythms and performance directions
Fluency - how effectively a performance ‘flows’ seamlessly without interruption or hesitation
Intonation - the tuning of notes; if a performer has good intonation it means that the notes are not out-of-tune
Common misconception
Accuracy and fluency are completely unrelated.
While they are separate concepts, as a performer they are often linked. This is because for a performance to be fluent, it has to be accurate. Where performances lack fluency, it is usually where the player struggles to play the notes accurately.
Teacher tip
The descriptors in this lesson correspond broadly with those used by the four exam boards, but there are some differences. If you want to, you could use the specific descriptors of your exam board in Task A and B to help familiarise pupils with the specific criteria they will be marked against.
Files needed for this lesson
Performance exemplar - solo piano (score) 52.66 KB (PDF)
Performance exemplar - solo piano (audio) 3.24 MB (MP3)
Download these files to use in the lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these is not a performance direction?
Q2.The musical term that tells us to gradually get louder is ...
Q3.Order these articulations from most detached to most connected.
Q4.Which description best explains fluency in a musical performance?
To help you plan your 11 music lesson on: Solo keyboard performance, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 music lesson on: Solo keyboard 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 Solo performance unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.