Jury Expectations

The following jury expectations and Applied Music Rubic outline the procedures, performance requirements, and evaluation criteria used during jury examination. Students are encouraged to review this information before their scheduled jury to understand the expectations and grading standards.

Prefer a printable version? Download and print the Navarro College Jury Expectations (PDF).

Stage Presence

  • All students are expected to be dressed in"Concert Black" attire.

  • Wear appropriate shoes, socks, pants or slacks, dress length or skirt length, shirt (males must have collard shirt) or blouse (shoulders should be covered, and conservative neckline), hair and makeup

  • Students who do not comply will result in no jury performance and a Jury Grade of "F".

  • Non-majors are allowed to wear slacks and a button-up shirt.

Arrival Time

  • Students should arrive and be ready to perform no later than 15 minutes prior to their scheduled jury time.

  • If a student is not present when their name is called, their jury performance will be bypassed.

Copies

Students should have the following items present at their jury:

  • Five (5) copies of Jury Repertoire / Jury Examination Sheets

  • Your copy of music plus five copies of music to be performed in jury.

Jury Time

  • Each jury is allotted an 8-minute time slot (time may vary)

What to Expect

A jury is a performance for your applied area faculty (Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Strings, Voice, Guitar, or Keyboard) for which you receive overall comments and a grade. You must performance a jury at the completion of each semester. Policies regarding juries vary among the applied areas. Consult your applied instructor or coordinator for specific details. Juries are required for all students taking applied lessons.

How Will I Be Graded?

Students will be graded on a 100-point scale separated into 4 separate categories worth 25-points each, the categories are as noted: Tone, Technique, Musicianship, Stage Presence/Appearance. The "Applied Music Rubic" will be used to determine the level of mastery for each category. Each juror will submit a "suggested jury grade" and the applied music instructor will assign a final jury grade.

If the majority of the panel fails the student for a jury, the graded outcome for their jury must be failing.

What is My Grade?

Jury sheets will be collected by your applied music instructor and a final grade will be calculated for your applied lessons. Jury sheets will be made available by your instructor the day after all juries are completed.

Applied Music Rubric

The Applied Music Rubric is used by faculty to evaluate each student's jury performance. Students are assessed in multiple performance areas using the following rating scale.

Performance Rating Scale

5 – Excellent

  • Performance consistently exceeds studio and departmental expectations.

4 – Good

  • Performance meets expectations with only minor inconsistencies.

3 – Fair

  • Performance demonstrates developing skills but requires additional improvement.

2 – Weak

  • Performance is below expectations and requires significant improvement.

Performance Criteria

Scales, Rudiments, and Technical Exercises

5 – Excellent

  • Fluent and proficient in scales, arpeggios, technical exercises, and rudiments.

  • Demonstrates skills appropriate for the student's level and studio expectations.

4 – Good

  • Meets studio expectations with only minor flaws or inconsistencies.

  • Fluency and accuracy remain evident despite minor errors.

3 – Fair

  • Demonstrates understanding of scales, techniques, and rudiments.

  • Inconsistent execution interferes with fluency.

  • Additional practice is needed to further develop these skills.

2 – Weak

  • Skill level is below studio expectations.

  • Technical deficiencies significantly affect performance.

  • Daily remediation is required.

 

Accuracy and Intonation

5 – Excellent

  • Notes and intonation are consistently accurate.

4 – Good

  • Occasional inaccurate or out-of-tune notes occur but do not detract from the overall performance.

3 – Fair

  • Several inaccurate or out-of-tune notes detract from the overall performance.

2 – Weak

  • Frequent wrong notes or poor intonation significantly detract from the performance.

 

Rhythm

5 – Excellent

  • The beat is secure. Rhythms are accurate and appropriate for the style of music.

4 – Good

  • Beat and rhythms are generally secure with only minor duration errors.

3 – Fair

  • The beat is occasionally inconsistent, causing rhythmic inaccuracies that affect the performance.

2 – Weak

  • Beat and rhythms are frequently inaccurate and significantly affect the performance.

 

Tone Quality

Possible problems include strident tone, covered or small tone, forced or pinched sound, improper mallet selection, incorrect playing area, improper stroke, incorrect bow placement, etc.

5 – Excellent

  • Production of sound is professional, clear, and consistent throughout the performance. Vibrato and dynamics enhance tone quality.

4 – Good

  • Tone is generally well controlled. Minor issues with range, diction, articulation, vibrato, or dynamics do not significantly affect the performance.

3 – Fair

  • Tone is inconsistent throughout the performance. Range extremes are often uncontrolled. Tone quality frequently detracts from the performance.

2 – Weak

  • Tone lacks focus and consistency throughout the performance. Basic tone production must improve before advanced musical elements can be developed.

 

Articulation and Diction

Secure, artistic and proper use of the tongue, diction, mallet, bow, fingers, pizzicato, etc.

5 – Excellent

  • Attacks are secure and expressive. Musical markings are executed accurately. Technique is fluent and supports musical expression.

4 – Good

  • Attacks are generally secure with only occasional errors. Musical markings are usually performed accurately.

3 – Fair

  • Frequent articulation or diction errors reduce musical effectiveness. Technique lacks consistency.

2 – Weak

  • Insecure attacks and inaccurate articulation interfere with musical flow and demonstrate insufficient technical understanding.

 

Musicality

5 – Excellent

  • Demonstrates expressive musical interpretation beyond technical accuracy. Performs dynamic, phrasing, and stylistic markings with confidence while adding appropriate personal interpretation.

4 – Good

  • Performs nearly all written musical elements correctly. Shows musical understanding but needs additional guidance with stylistic interpretation.

3 – Fair

  • Performance focuses primarily on technical execution. Musical expression and stylistic interpretation are limited.

2 – Weak

  • Performance lacks expressive interpretation. Primary focus remains on correct notes rather than musical communication.

 

Technique

Examples include effective use of arms, hands, fingers, mouth, tongue, jaw, larynx, and pedaling.

5 – Excellent

  • Technique fully supports musical interpretation.

4 – Good

  • Technique generally supports musical interpretation but lacks complete confidence.

3 – Fair

  • Technique is inconsistent and often insecure.

2 – Weak

  • Technical limitations interfere with musical interpretation.

 

Professional Disposition

5 – Excellent

  • Dresses professionally.

  • Demonstrates appropriate demeanor and communication.

  • Arrives organized and on time.

  • Accepts constructive criticism positively.

4 – Good

  • Displays professional behavior with only minor areas needing improvement.

3 – Fair

  • Professionalism is inconsistent. May appear disorganized, unprepared, or overly nervous.

2 – Weak

  • Does not meet professional expectations. Fails to follow jury procedures or responds negatively to constructive feedback.

 

Sight Reading

5 – Excellent

  • Rhythm, pitch, tempo, and meter are highly accurate. Student recovers effectively from occasional mistakes.

4 – Good

  • Rhythm and pitch are generally accurate. Dynamic, tempo, and meter markings are interpreted correctly most of the time.

3 – Fair

  • Important musical elements such as key, accidentals, or tempo are frequently missed. Student has difficulty recovering after mistakes.

2 – Weak

  • Fundamental reading skills require significant improvement. Student cannot successfully navigate the musical passage without assistance.

Studio Professor Considerations

Practice and Preparation

5 – Excellent

  • Performance demonstrates regular, focused practice with clear attention to lesson material and areas needing improvement.

4 – Good

  • Performance reflects regular practice and reasonable attention to lesson material.

3 – Fair

  • Practice is inconsistent with minimal attention to lesson objectives.

2 – Weak

  • Very little evidence of regular practice. Continuation in the program may be in jeopardy.

 

Repertoire

5 – Excellent

  • Repertoire meets or exceeds studio expectations. Student independently explores music and demonstrates strong knowledge of literature for their instrument.

4 – Good

  • Repertoire meets minimum studio expectations. Student demonstrates appropriate knowledge and curiosity.

3 – Fair

  • Repertoire barely meets expectations. Student requires guidance to explore additional literature.

2 – Weak

  • Repertoire falls below studio expectations. Student demonstrates limited knowledge of instrument literature and may be in jeopardy of continuing.