Purpose:  To encourage students to become critical listeners and observers of other performance groups, and  to them to become active “performance” goers.  Critiques count for 20% of the semester grade. The Critique is also a written requirement for a student to earn their Varsity Letter.  Students will need to turn in a type written report, proof of attendance (usually a signed program), and meet the following:

 I.                     Criteria

A.                  The performance group that you critique must be equal to or greater to a high school performing group.

B.                   The performance group must be from the following idioms:

1.        Concert or Orchestra

2.        Jazz, or Blues

3.        Choral or Folk

4.        Winter Guard or Drum Line

C.                   The performance group can not be from the following idioms:

1.        Rock

2.        Country

3.        Pop

4.        Pre Recorded

II.                   Proof of Attendance (either of the following) (50 points): Staple to the front of the critique

A.                  A ticket stub

B.                   A concert program

C.                   An autograph from one of the performers or Director

III.                 Written Requirements (100 points):

            A.              Paragraph #1:  Introduction (Address Performance)

            B.              Paragraph #2:  Critique the first piece (or movement) of Music (Address Aesthetic, and Composition).

            C.              Paragraph #3:  Critique the second piece (or movement) of Music (Address Aesthetic, and Composition)

            D.              Paragraph#4:   Critique the second piece (or movement) of Music (If Applicable, otherwise go on to E)

            E.               Paragraph#5:  Concluding Statements

Performance: Who, what, where, and when.  Write about the Performance Group:

            A.              Name of the group

            B.              Name of the leader/conductor, and performers (if applicable)

                      C.              Discuss the appearance of the group (professional, unenthusiastic)

            D.              Discuss the groups performance quality:

1.    Were they accurate (rhythms, intonation, did they play together)?

2.       Balance (did anyone stick out)?

3.        Soloists (if there were any, how did they sound, did they play too long)?

Aesthetic:  Critically assess and derive meaning from works of music and the performance of musicians in a cultural context according to the elements of music, aesthetic qualities, and human responses.

            A.            How Does the Music Make You Feel?  Your initial thoughts.

            B.            Does the Music remind you of a memory or image?

            C.            After learning of the Composition (see below), do you feel differently about what you heard?  Why, or why not?

Composition:   Historical awareness; Theoretical analysis; Form & Structure; Orchestration (woodwinds, brass, percussion, soloists, etc…)

            A.                   Title of each piece.

            B.          Musical era that each piece is from.

            C.          Who is the composer of each piece (who wrote it)? (Note:  Don't know?  Ask a performer or the Director.

            D.          Historical Relevance of each piece (why, or for whom was it written)?

            E.          What is the style or genre of each piece (classical, modern, folk, dance, vocal/lyrical)?

Time Line: Turn in anytime between: Friday March 23rd & Monday April 16th.

                   Anytime thereafter is an F.