Assessment Criteria
The following information lists what adjudicators will be listening for when a solo piper competes in VPA competitions.
Novice
- Show ability to play grace notes and movements clearly.
- Play with a steady tempo, show a basic understanding of musical expression.
- Blow bagpipes steady.
- Smartly dressed and presented.
D Grade
- Show ability to play notes, grace notes and movements on the beat.
- Play with a steady, consistent tempo.
- Show a basic understanding of musical expression.
- Blow bagpipes steady on a well tuned bagpipe.
- Smartly dressed and presented.
C Grade
- Show ability to play notes, grace notes and movements on the beat with clarity.
- Play with a steady, consistent tempo (marching up and down for marches and beating of foot for other tunes).
- Present a steadily blown, well balanced and in tune bagpipe.
- Show ability to tune drones between elements (if required).
- Show an understanding of musical phrasing and expression.
- Show an understanding of stage-craft.
- Smartly dressed and presented.
B Grade
- Show ability to play accurate execution of all notes and beats with good clarity and precise consistency.
- Play with a steady, consistent tempo. Marching up and down for marches and beating of foot for other tunes.
- Present a well balanced and accurately tuned chanter.
- Show ability to tune drones accurately before commencing performances.
- Show a high level of understanding of musical phrasing and expression.
- Demonstrate a high level of stage-craft.
- Smartly dressed and presented.
A Grade
- High standard of all disciplines required.