Assessor Resource

CUAMPF604
Extend improvisation techniques

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop high level improvisation skills.

It applies to musicians who apply skills to compose or vary music ‘in the moment’ in response to stimuli. They have highly developed skills in aural awareness and in the musical practice of a chosen genre or musical tradition.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Develop a professional development plan

1.1 Listen to recordings of own improvisations, and establish professional development goals in consultation with appropriate people

1.2 Discuss factors that contribute to excellence in improvisation, and incorporate them into professional development goals as appropriate

1.3 Listen to the work of master improvisers, and evaluate techniques that could be applied to own practice

1.4 Establish criteria for monitoring and evaluating own skill development

1.5 Develop a practice plan that incorporates realistic goals for refining improvisation techniques

1.6 Identify repertoire that will help achieve technical and expressive development goals, and incorporate them into practice plan

2. Refine techniques

2.1 Experiment with repertoire and explore improvisation techniques

2.2 Practise playing improvised solos that contain advanced harmonic, structural, melodic and rhythmic characteristics, simultaneously phrasing and shaping the music

2.3 Build technical facility to develop confidence in own ability to create musically mature and spontaneous responses to musical stimuli

2.4 Listen critically to own performance to assess strengths and weaknesses, and adjust practice regime accordingly

2.5 Ensure that practice is undertaken with due consideration of personal health and safety

3. Perform improvisation before an audience

3.1 Support and enhance the contribution of others to achieve best performance outcomes

3.2 Make improvisation sensitive to the needs of other performers to encourage ensemble trust, initiative and willingness to be innovative

3.3 Respond accurately to starting cues when performing solo improvisation

3.4 Sustain musical impetus in improvisation through dynamic use of musical elements

3.5 Maintain stylistic cohesion in the realisation of harmony, melody, and/or rhythm and musical expression

3.6 Listen carefully to other performers, responding musically to their work and adjusting own performance appropriately

3.7 Provide a clear cue to the ensemble to finish the solo section as required

3.8 Ensure that the duration of solo improvisations accords with the custom and practice of the group and/or musical style

3.9 Observe ensemble customs and protocols, and follow work health and safety (WHS) requirements

3.10 Acknowledge applause according to the custom and practice of the group and/or musical style

4. Evaluate own skill development

4.1 View or listen to recordings of own performance to analyse technical and expressive qualities

4.2 Evaluate level of improvement in own improvisation techniques against agreed criteria

4.3 Seek and use feedback on performances to inform future professional development strategies

Evidence of the ability to:

plan and implement ways to refine own skills, and monitor skill development progress

perform improvisations using a range of advanced musical techniques

give and respond to cues during solo improvisations.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

explain factors that contribute to excellence in improvisation

describe typical ensemble customs, protocols and practices, in relation to improvisation

describe issues that arise in the context of performing improvisations, and explain how they might be overcome

outline work health and safety (WHS) principles relevant to performing improvisations.

Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in creative arts industry environments. The assessment environment must include access to:

relevant instruments and equipment

performance opportunities as part of an ensemble

appropriate venue with adequate space and acoustic qualities

opportunities to perform for an audience.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational educational and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Develop a professional development plan

1.1 Listen to recordings of own improvisations, and establish professional development goals in consultation with appropriate people

1.2 Discuss factors that contribute to excellence in improvisation, and incorporate them into professional development goals as appropriate

1.3 Listen to the work of master improvisers, and evaluate techniques that could be applied to own practice

1.4 Establish criteria for monitoring and evaluating own skill development

1.5 Develop a practice plan that incorporates realistic goals for refining improvisation techniques

1.6 Identify repertoire that will help achieve technical and expressive development goals, and incorporate them into practice plan

2. Refine techniques

2.1 Experiment with repertoire and explore improvisation techniques

2.2 Practise playing improvised solos that contain advanced harmonic, structural, melodic and rhythmic characteristics, simultaneously phrasing and shaping the music

2.3 Build technical facility to develop confidence in own ability to create musically mature and spontaneous responses to musical stimuli

2.4 Listen critically to own performance to assess strengths and weaknesses, and adjust practice regime accordingly

2.5 Ensure that practice is undertaken with due consideration of personal health and safety

3. Perform improvisation before an audience

3.1 Support and enhance the contribution of others to achieve best performance outcomes

3.2 Make improvisation sensitive to the needs of other performers to encourage ensemble trust, initiative and willingness to be innovative

3.3 Respond accurately to starting cues when performing solo improvisation

3.4 Sustain musical impetus in improvisation through dynamic use of musical elements

3.5 Maintain stylistic cohesion in the realisation of harmony, melody, and/or rhythm and musical expression

3.6 Listen carefully to other performers, responding musically to their work and adjusting own performance appropriately

3.7 Provide a clear cue to the ensemble to finish the solo section as required

3.8 Ensure that the duration of solo improvisations accords with the custom and practice of the group and/or musical style

3.9 Observe ensemble customs and protocols, and follow work health and safety (WHS) requirements

3.10 Acknowledge applause according to the custom and practice of the group and/or musical style

4. Evaluate own skill development

4.1 View or listen to recordings of own performance to analyse technical and expressive qualities

4.2 Evaluate level of improvement in own improvisation techniques against agreed criteria

4.3 Seek and use feedback on performances to inform future professional development strategies

Evidence of the ability to:

plan and implement ways to refine own skills, and monitor skill development progress

perform improvisations using a range of advanced musical techniques

give and respond to cues during solo improvisations.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

explain factors that contribute to excellence in improvisation

describe typical ensemble customs, protocols and practices, in relation to improvisation

describe issues that arise in the context of performing improvisations, and explain how they might be overcome

outline work health and safety (WHS) principles relevant to performing improvisations.

Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in creative arts industry environments. The assessment environment must include access to:

relevant instruments and equipment

performance opportunities as part of an ensemble

appropriate venue with adequate space and acoustic qualities

opportunities to perform for an audience.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational educational and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Listen to recordings of own improvisations, and establish professional development goals in consultation with appropriate people 
Discuss factors that contribute to excellence in improvisation, and incorporate them into professional development goals as appropriate 
Listen to the work of master improvisers, and evaluate techniques that could be applied to own practice 
Establish criteria for monitoring and evaluating own skill development 
Develop a practice plan that incorporates realistic goals for refining improvisation techniques 
Identify repertoire that will help achieve technical and expressive development goals, and incorporate them into practice plan 
Experiment with repertoire and explore improvisation techniques 
Practise playing improvised solos that contain advanced harmonic, structural, melodic and rhythmic characteristics, simultaneously phrasing and shaping the music 
Build technical facility to develop confidence in own ability to create musically mature and spontaneous responses to musical stimuli 
Listen critically to own performance to assess strengths and weaknesses, and adjust practice regime accordingly 
Ensure that practice is undertaken with due consideration of personal health and safety 
Support and enhance the contribution of others to achieve best performance outcomes 
Make improvisation sensitive to the needs of other performers to encourage ensemble trust, initiative and willingness to be innovative 
Respond accurately to starting cues when performing solo improvisation 
Sustain musical impetus in improvisation through dynamic use of musical elements 
Maintain stylistic cohesion in the realisation of harmony, melody, and/or rhythm and musical expression 
Listen carefully to other performers, responding musically to their work and adjusting own performance appropriately 
Provide a clear cue to the ensemble to finish the solo section as required 
Ensure that the duration of solo improvisations accords with the custom and practice of the group and/or musical style 
Observe ensemble customs and protocols, and follow work health and safety (WHS) requirements 
Acknowledge applause according to the custom and practice of the group and/or musical style 
View or listen to recordings of own performance to analyse technical and expressive qualities 
Evaluate level of improvement in own improvisation techniques against agreed criteria 
Seek and use feedback on performances to inform future professional development strategies 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

CUAMPF604 - Extend improvisation techniques
Assessment task 1: [title]

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I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

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Assessment Record Sheet

CUAMPF604 - Extend improvisation techniques

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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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