South Carolina Assessment Program

Task Details

Rhythm Improvisation (2 Phrases)

In this task, students will demonstrate their improvisation proficiency by improvising two rhythm phrases in response to rhythm prompts. Each phrase is 8-beats long and in duple meter. The teacher will assess each student’s individual proficiency and may choose to deliver the task to all students during one class period or to selected students over several class periods.

This page contains an 'at a glance' overview of this task, a downloadable teacher guide document, and the task rubric. Student work samples will be added after the task has been piloted in classrooms.

Proficiency Level(s)

  • Intermediate

Document(s)

Targeted Grade Level(s)

  • Upper Elementary
  • Middle School

Prompt(s)

  • No prompts

Classroom Piloting Status

  • Piloted

Standard(s)

Content Area Artistic Process Standard
General Music Creating 2. I can improvise music.

Benchmark(s) and Indicator(s)

Benchmark Indicator
GM.CR.IL.2 - I can improvise short melodic question and answer patterns. GM.CR.IL.2.2 - I can improvise rhythmic and melodic patterns to create a musical phrase.

Rubric and Sample Student Work

RHYTHM
Proficiency Level Description Sample Student Work Justification
Exemplary

Rhythmic elements are consistent and clear throughout both phrases:

  • Tempo is consistent
  • Meter is clearly defined through subdivisions
  • Macrobeats, microbeats, and complex rhythms are consistent.
  • Rhythmic elements are clear and precise.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Proficient

Rhythmic elements are mostly consistent and clear throughout both phrases:

  • Tempo is consistent
  • Meter is clearly defined through subdivisions
  • Macrobeats, microbeats, and complex rhythms are consistent.
  • Rhythmic elements are clear and precise.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Approaching Proficient

Rhythmic elements are mostly consistent and clear in only one phrase: 

  • Tempo is consistent
  • Meter is clearly defined through subdivisions
  • Macrobeats, microbeats, and complex rhythms are consistent.
  • Rhythmic elements are clear and precise.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Emerging

Rhythmic elements are inconsistent and unclear in both phrases:

  • Tempo is established but inconsistent
  • Meter is established but not clearly defined
  • Macrobeats, microbeats, and complex rhythms are inconsistent.
  • Rhythmic elements are mostly unclear and imprecise.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Needs Major Support

No recognizable tempo, meter, or rhythmic elements in both phrases.

 Student work samples coming soon!
IMPROVISATION
Proficiency Level Description Sample Student Work Justification
Exemplary

Includes all elements in both phrases:

  • Complex rhythms that include syncopations are performed.
  • The two phrases are different.
  • Each phrase has a final ending, such as a macrobeat or rest.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Proficient

Includes most elements in both phrases:

  • Complex rhythms that include subdivisions or elongations are performed.
  • The two phrases are different.
  • Each phrase has a final ending, such as a macrobeat or rest.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Approaching Proficient

Includes most elements in at least one phrase:

  • Only macrobeats and microbeats are performed.
  • The two phrases are identical.
  • Each phrase lacks final ending.
 Student work samples coming soon!
Emerging

Includes one or more elements in at least one phrase:

  • Only one rhythm value (such as all macrobeats or all microbeats) is performed
  • One or both phrases has too many or too few beats
  • One phrase lacks improvisational intent
  • Repeats the prompt in one phrase
 Student work samples coming soon!
Needs Major Support

No recognizable improvisational intent:

  • Repeats the prompt in both phrases

or

  • Incomplete performance (i.e. less than 6 or more than 10 beats) in both phrases
 Student work samples coming soon!