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3 Chorus Assessment: outline

Performance assessment
Task: Record and submit a 3 chorus performance of “Autumn Leaves” with a course playalong (attached at the bottom of this article).

The first and last chorus should be statements of the tune and the middle chorus should be an improvisation over voiced chords in the left hand. The theme statement should attempt to play answering chords in the left hand with the playalong (see part 7 of the Exercises).

You will need to record yourself and submit an mp3 to the assignment in the next step.

Assessment Criteria:

There are four aspects, each with a mark of 0, 1 or 2.

(i) Dropped beats

Are there any “dropped beats” where the performance is no longer in time with the playalong

  • 0 – Many dropped beats
  • 1 – One or two dropped beats
  • 2 – None

(ii) Acceptable theme statements

  • 0 – Unacceptable theme statements
  • 1 – Theme statements could be much stronger
  • 2 – Acceptable

(iii) Coordination with the playalong in the theme statements

  • 0 – Unacceptable theme statements
  • 1 – Considerable room for improvement
  • 2 – Acceptable

(iv) Convincing jazz improvisation

  • 0 – Completely unconvincing jazz improvisation
  • 1 – Considerable room for improvement
  • 2 – Sufficiently convincing

© Goldsmiths, University of London
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Learn jazz piano: Improvising on Jazz Standards

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