Music Performance Programme Notes & Presentation Skills Exam Assessment/Marking Criteria



Below are how music performance exams programme notes and presentation skills are marked/assessed. For example, the Trinity College London music performance exams for ATCL/LTCL recital programme notes and presentation skills assessment or marking criteria.


How to score distinctions in music diploma exams programme notes and presentation skills section? Below are the tips to score distinction in diploma music performance programme notes and presentation skills.





ATCL or DipABRSM Music Qualifications:

are said to be comparable to the end of the first year of a music degree study in music universities.


LTCL or LRSM Music Qualifications: 

are said to be comparable to the end of a honours music degree study in music universities.


FTCL or FRSM Music Qualifications: 



are said to be comparable to a master level music study in music universities.



  Programme Notes and Presentation Skills Exam Marking Criteria Video


For the Trinity exams ATCL Recital or LTCL Recital exams, 10% or 10 marks is given on programme notes and presentation skills. 


Distinctions: 8-10 marks,  Pass: 6-7 marks, Below Pass: 1-5 marks



The 10% or 10 marks is not given based entirely on how well you write your programme notes, eg. its content only. Marks are also given based on: -


1) How well you time all your individual exam pieces or songs


Are all your pieces or songs timing stated in your programme notes accurate or very close to your actual performance on your exam day? 


2) Are your whole recital, within the given exam time limits?


ATCL Recital whole exam length is about 40 mins. Time durations for playing all your pieces or singing all your songs, must be within 32-38mins.


LTCL Recital whole exam length is about 45 mins. Time durations for playing all your pieces or singing all your songs, must be within 37-43mins.


If your total time playing is less or more than the exam’s given time duration, marks will be deducted.


3) Are your programme, pieces/songs stylistically balanced?


Are you playing all pieces from Romantic period only? Or only playing all slow pieces/singing slow songs only? If yes, its’ considered stylistically not balanced.


4) Do your programme notes content help your audience to appreciate and understand more about the pieces or songs your are playing or singing? 



5) Whole written programme notes is professional and of high quality standard


All details are included? For example, candidate's ID number, exam date, exam time..etc


6) Showing professional stagecraft and confident presentation of your programme


Do you look confident on stage when you play? Do you look like a professional performer?


7) Your attire on the exam day should be suitable for a public concert


Meaning your dress or shirt or pants..etc, your clothing must be suitable for a public concert. Please do not wear your school uniforms or just a simple T-shirt and short pants..etc to play on your exam day.


This also include other people who are involved in your exam eg. your piano accompanist or page turner attire should also be suitable for a public concert. 




Distinctions (8- 10 marks) for Programme Notes & Presentation Skills 


If you show examiner(s) a professional level of presentation and you have all the criteria or aspects as mentioned above, you will receive a Distinction for your programme notes & presentation skills section.


♪   All your individual pieces or songs timing are accurate. Your overall programme time duration is within the given exam time limit.

♪   Your programme is stylistically balanced.

♪   Programme notes content are very informative and it helps your audience to appreciate and understand more about the pieces or songs you are playing or singing.

♪   Written programme notes is professional and of high quality standard. All details are included.

♪   Stagecraft is confident and professional. Attire (clothing) including your piano accompanists, page turner..etc others who involved, are also suitable for a public concert.




Pass (6- 7 marks) for Programme Notes & Presentation Skills 


♪   If examiner(s) finds that your programme notes and presentation skills is satisfactory, okay. 

♪   All your individual pieces or songs timing is mostly accurate. Your overall programme time duration is close to the given exam time limit.

♪   Your programme is moderately balanced.

♪   Programme notes content are informative.

♪   Written programme notes is tidy and neat. Most details are included.

♪   Stagecraft is confident. Your attire (clothing), piano accompanists, page turner..etc others who involved is also suitable for a public concert.




Below Pass (1-5 marks) for Programme Notes & Presentation Skills 


Pieces or songs timing not accurate. The total programme is less or more than the required exam time limit.

programme not balanced. Meaning probably most of your pieces or songs almost same styles or same tempo.

programme notes content too general, not informative.

written programme notes is not neat. Some details are left out.

Stagecraft not confident. Attire (clothing) not suitable for a public concert.