Assessment of instrumental music performance: definitions, criteria, measurement

Abstract

The concept of music performance achievement or musical achievement is variably understood and operationalised in different ways in research. Assessing the level of instrumental music performance is a complex task, requiring the assessment of many aspects of music performance. The aim of this article is to analyse (a) the ways achievement in music performance is understood, (b) factors affecting the assessment of instrumental music performance, and (c) tools used to measure such achievements. We describe the distinctions made in terms of the level of music expertise attained and the quality of the performance. We also present factors considered when assessing performance achievement: types of musical performance tasks, choice of repertoire, assessment criteria, such as the overall impression of the performance, technical ability, expressive components, and the basic parameters of the quality of the performance. Finally, we discuss available assessment tools, indicating their limitations.

Performance Assessment Technologies for the Support of Musical Instrument Learning

“…Evaluations could be conducted with various levels of detail, ranging from evaluations based on an overall impression of the performance, to those based on more detailed criteria representing technical and expressivity levels, or to those based on micro-skills presented, such as adequacy of played notes, rhythmic correctness, appropriateness of dynamic changes, and quality of articulation (Mazur and Łaguna 2017). The appropriateness of one level of detail over another is very context specific.…”

“…the capabilities of the instrument) and the evaluation (i.e. the task and repertoire) (Mazur and Łaguna 2017), where the research efforts mentioned in section 2.1 regarding frameworks for developing assessments would offer insight. One must also take into account the effect of criteria choices on the validity, reliability, and fairness of the assessment (Wesolowski and Wind 2019).…”