Solo keyboard performance
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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) 53 KB (PDF)
Performance exemplar - solo piano (audio) 3.2 MB (MP3)
Download these files to use in the lesson.
Licence
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