Asynchronous Academy

Culminating Task: Final Performance

This is your final performance evaluation—your Culminating Task. You will record a complete, polished performance of a piece or song you have practiced during this term. This is your opportunity to synthesize the technical control, expressive nuances, and musicianship skills you have developed throughout the course.

🎵 Performance Guidelines

  • Length Requirement: Your final performance piece must be at least 32 bars (measures) long. If your piece is shorter, you must select another piece or arrange/extend it to meet the minimum bar requirement. Looping or repeating the same short sections does not count toward this total.

📹 Recording & Submission Requirements

  1. Clean Video Setup: Position your camera so that it clearly captures both of your hands interacting with your instrument, your facial expression, and your overall playing posture.
  2. Introduction: Begin the video with a brief spoken introduction identifying:
    • The title of the piece and the artist or composer.
    • The key stylistic elements (dynamics, articulation, tempo changes) you are highlighting.
  3. Safety & Posture Check: Maintain proper playing posture throughout the video. If using an amplified instrument, ensure you are practicing hearing safety.
  4. Professional Presentation: Ensure your video is recorded in a well-lit, quiet space. Trim any dead air at the beginning or end of your video before exporting.
  5. Submission: Export your final video as an MP4 file and upload it to the culminating task card in your course dashboard.

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • 📤

    Final Performance Video including:

    • A complete, polished performance of your selected piece (at least 32 bars long)

    • A brief spoken introduction detailing the title, composer/artist, and key stylistic focus areas

💡 A Different Way to Learn

Async Academy courses are inquiry-based. There are no rote answer keys or multiple-choice worksheets here. You learn by exploring, questioning, and building projects you care about.

Because your discovery path is completely unique, you need a human sounding board. Enroll to submit your projects and get personalized video feedback from an Ontario Certified Teacher to guide your work.

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Perform a complete musical selection demonstrating technical control, accuracy, and stylistic nuance

  • 🎯

    Synthesize the technical skills and stylistic insights developed throughout the course

  • 🎯

    Present a professional-quality performance recording for final evaluation

Success Criteria

I can:

  • ✅

    Perform a complete musical selection (minimum 32 bars) using the creative process and demonstrating overall growth

    Expectations Covered: A1, A2
  • ✅

    Showcase technical proficiency, proper playing posture, and safe physical practices

    Expectations Covered: A3, C3
  • ✅

    Demonstrate stylistic expression and an understanding of the piece's elements

    Expectations Covered: A2, C1

Rubric

Category Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1
Knowledge/Understanding
How well does the student demonstrate an understanding of the musical elements, notation, and stylistic requirements of their chosen final piece?
 Demonstrates a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the piece's elements and style Demonstrates a considerable understanding of the piece's elements and style Demonstrates a basic understanding of the piece's elements and style Demonstrates a limited understanding of the piece's elements and style
Thinking/Inquiry
How effectively does the student apply the creative process to refine, polish, and interpret the final performance?
 Applies the creative process to interpret the piece with high artistic refinement Applies the creative process to interpret the piece with considerable success Applies the creative process with some success Applies the creative process with limited success
Application
How effectively does the student showcase technical proficiency (finger dexterity, breath control, posture) and instrument-specific control?
 Showcases superior technical proficiency and consistent physical/technical control Showcases solid technical proficiency and consistent physical/technical control Showcases some technical proficiency and occasional physical/technical control Showcases limited technical proficiency and weak physical/technical control
Communication
How effectively does the student present their final performance video with clean audio/video quality and stylistic expression?
 Performance is highly expressive, engaging, and presented with exceptional clarity Performance is expressive, engaging, and presented with clear audio and video Performance has some expressive qualities and acceptable presentation Performance has limited expression and poor presentation quality
Knowledge/Understanding
Criteria: How well does the student demonstrate an understanding of the musical elements, notation, and stylistic requirements of their chosen final piece?
Level 4

Demonstrates a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the piece's elements and style

Level 3

Demonstrates a considerable understanding of the piece's elements and style

Level 2

Demonstrates a basic understanding of the piece's elements and style

Level 1

Demonstrates a limited understanding of the piece's elements and style

Thinking/Inquiry
Criteria: How effectively does the student apply the creative process to refine, polish, and interpret the final performance?
Level 4

Applies the creative process to interpret the piece with high artistic refinement

Level 3

Applies the creative process to interpret the piece with considerable success

Level 2

Applies the creative process with some success

Level 1

Applies the creative process with limited success

Application
Criteria: How effectively does the student showcase technical proficiency (finger dexterity, breath control, posture) and instrument-specific control?
Level 4

Showcases superior technical proficiency and consistent physical/technical control

Level 3

Showcases solid technical proficiency and consistent physical/technical control

Level 2

Showcases some technical proficiency and occasional physical/technical control

Level 1

Showcases limited technical proficiency and weak physical/technical control

Communication
Criteria: How effectively does the student present their final performance video with clean audio/video quality and stylistic expression?
Level 4

Performance is highly expressive, engaging, and presented with exceptional clarity

Level 3

Performance is expressive, engaging, and presented with clear audio and video

Level 2

Performance has some expressive qualities and acceptable presentation

Level 1

Performance has limited expression and poor presentation quality