DISTRICT II

FLORIDA STATE MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

STUDENT DAY JUDGES’ BRIEFING AND RATING GUIDELINES

Be thoroughly familiar with the requirements for each level being evaluated. Requirements, sight
reading material, harmonization/transposition examples, rating sheets and schedule are in the folder
which you will receive on Student Day during the Judges’ Briefing at 8:30 AM. You are scheduled
to judge from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. (You will be given breaks and a lunch).

1. Please greet each student warmly.

2. Ask the student’s preference for beginning the audition with skills, sight-reading or repertoire.

4. Keyboard Skills: General guidelines: Ask a major scale or five finger pattern for the level. If the
student plays it accurately, go on to the minor scale. If the student does not, ask a second major scale. If
the second one is played correctly, the question is passed, and you should proceed to the next skill.
Follow this format throughout the various skills. If two major scales are played incorrectly, that particular
skill is not passed. Circle the keys asked on the evaluation sheet. Put an “X” through the circle if the
student plays it incorrectly. Ask at least one question from every area of keyboard skills. Do not make
verbal comments, do not indicate whether it is correct or incorrect, and DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
TEACH. If a student shows doubt regarding a skill, rephrase your request before concluding that the
student does not know. Do not penalize a student for playing more than is required, and do not comment
on arpeggio or chord fingerings.

5. Harmonization & Transposition: This is part of the keyboard skills. Harmonizations and
transpositions may not be written out.

6. Sight-reading: Hear at least eight measures of the sight reading material, the level of which is two
below that at which the student is entered. Sight-reading is not considered in determining whether or
not the student passes the level, nor is it considered in the awarding of Honors. Students in Piano
level Primary do not sight-read, instead they have clapback rhythms.

7. Musicianship: Ask each of the questions at each level. They are each worth 1/3 of a point.

8. Repertoire: Hear all of each piece at all levels. Do not make verbal comments. Constructive, kind
comments should be written in detail on the reverse side of the examination sheet. Be specific in
terms of accuracy, technique, rhythm, memory, phrasing, dynamics, pedal, tone quality and other
characteristics of performance. Do not comment on the level, choice of balance of repertoire on the
examination sheet; paper and envelopes are provided in your folder to communicate directly with the
teacher any comment best left off the student’s sheet.

9. General Instructions: Be certain to evaluate every area. Stay within your schedule for auditions.
Do not write about one student during another’s audition. Please do not smoke or eat when students
are auditioning. If possible, sit out of the peripheral vision of the student. Repeats should be taken
only when necessary for the form of the piece. Photocopies are not allowed – students who have only
a photocopy will not be allowed to play that piece (likely resulting in their receiving a Certificate of
Progress). Please write a private note to the teacher if there are any repertoire concerns. Please
remember the nature of these evaluations: The purpose is to encourage the AVERAGE student.
10. Rating Guidelines: The audition’s two parts are rated and then an overall rating is given:

A. Skills
Piano students are evaluated for 10 correct items, musicianship questions count as one question or
one of the 10 correct responses—if a student misses a musicianship question, the student has
missed 1/3 of one point. Sight-reading is asked but does not count against the students’ rating. If
the student sight-reads exceptionally well, they receive a bonus point. The score of correct
responses is first recorded, and then the appropriate grade is assigned for that score.
“H” for Honors is assigned for scores of 9 or 10 out of 10
“A” for Achievement is assigned for scores of 7 or 8 out of 10
“P” for Progress is assigned for scores of 1 through 6 out of 10

B. Repertoire
The grade “H”, “A” or “P” will be assigned for repertoire. To help define these grades, the
following percentages are associated;
“H” for Honors is 90% or higher
“A” for Achievement is 70 – 89%
“P” for Progress is up to 69%

C. Audition Performance (Overall score)

The grade “H”, “A” or “P” will be assigned for an overall score according to the following rule;
If the student received “P” in either section, the “P” is assigned overall
If the student received “H” in both sections, then “H” is assigned overall
If not “H” or “P” overall, then “A” is assigned

11. Honors Recital: Each judge is responsible to pick a total of 5 students to perform on the Honors
Recital. Ideally, they will be the students with the highest scores, or at least Honors category. Try to
recommend a variety of levels and musical styles when you choose the repertoire. If you are judging
4 different levels, try to choose at least one representative from each level. Please also indicate 1-2
runners up, in case your first choices have a conflict.

12. Sign your name (Examiner’s Signature)[ using “NCTM if appropriate], and date

DO NOT COMPLETE ANY OF THE FORM BELOW YOUR SIGNATURE