Flute

	4	3	2	1
	Exceeding	Meeting	Approaching	Beginning
Posture	Student sits on the edge of the chair, back is straight, feet are flat on the floor (no crossed legs). The flute is "brought to the embouchure", and the flute angle is appropriate all of the time.	Student sits on the edge of the chair, back is straight, feet are flat on the floor. However, the student may have difficulty maintaining the correct posture throughout the performance.	Student sits on the edge of the chair but "hunches". The embouchure may be brought to the flute, making for an awkward position. The flute may be pointing more towards the floor than vertically.	Student does not sit on the edge of the chair it's obvious that the player is not focused on his/her posture. Posture is not straight
Hand Position	Both hands are held in a natural "C" Position, the left hand facing the player and the right hand facing away. Fingers remain flexible and fluid throughout performance with no tension. Elbows are relaxed and the flute is not pointing extremely down to the floor (almost horizontal). Your left hand has a "shelf" that the flute rests on. Fingers are relaxed and stay close to the keys at all times.	Student uses proper hand position. Fingers may appear to be rigid in some instances. Hand position is often in a "C" position, but player has difficulty maintaining over longer periods of time.	Student's hand position is inconsistent or not shaped in a natural "C" position but the fingers are over the keys. Fingers may be "flying" too far off the keys.	Fingers may be lifting off the keys as student plays. The student may be holding the flute incorrectly and unassuredly without an adequate "shelf" to provide support.
Embouchure	Student uses very good breath support. Mouth is placed as if saying "whee-too" Teeth are pencil width apart. Head joint is positioned on the chin so that the edge of the embouchure hole is at hte bottom of the lower lip. Then the head joint hole centered or only slightly off center. 1/4 to 1/3 of hte embourchure hole is covered with the lower lip. Resulting sound is consistent and strong in all registers. Player changes embouchure for high and low notes, bringing lips together for high notes. Can play high and soft. Head is up and player is looking ahead.	Student uses very good breath support. Mostly embouchure is placed as if saying "whee-too." Teeth are pencil width apart. Embouchure hole is centered or only slightly off center. Resulting sound is consistent and strong with some inconsistencies in the very low or high registers.	Student uses some breath support, but may be chest breathing resulting in insufficient support. The sound is not characteristic of the instrument in most registers.	The embouchure is off centre and breath support is insufficient. Aperture (the opening of the lips) may be too wide or too narrow resulting in a very weak sound or a sound that is not in the correct register.
Tone Quality	Student uses appropriate air speed and embouchure shape for range, producing a sound that is pure and sustained for the notes of the low, middle, and high registers. Tone has a professional quality.	Tone is focused, clear and centered through the normal range of the instrument. Extremes in range cause tone to be less controlled. Tone quality typically does not detract from the performance.	Student uses appropriate air speed to produce a sound that is pure and sustained for the notes of the middle register but inconsistent with the notes of the low and high registers.	Student uses air that is too fast , producing a sound that is "too high" or uses air that is too slow producing a sound that is "breathy" and is unable to get into the high register.