1. Songwriting Workshop Assessment Rubric – Original Song
Name/s:
Song Genre: Style: Song Title:
Criteria Novice 5.25 Apprentice 5.50 Capable 5.75 Skilled 6.00 Expert 6.25
Lyrics Beginnings of a
good song: Some
effective lyrics with
some structure.
Some beginnings of
form evident: Verse,
Chorus and other
sections evident.
Good Song: Chorus and
verses lyrics are suitable
to the style and have an
effective structure. Good
Form: Use of Chorus and
Verse; lyrics make sense
and have structural
organisation.
Very Good Song: Good
use of repetition in lyrics;
some catchy lyrical hooks;
good use of rhyme; lyrics
fit the song style. Very
Good Form: Verse has
interesting, informative
and original content.
Great Song: Memorable lyrical
hook; excellent use of rhyme;
lyrics are catchy, includes
repetition and is easy to sing;
emotion included; emerging voice
eminent. Great Form: Planning,
drafting and editing lyrical content
evident. All sections are carefully
crafted.
Hit Song Material: Excellent use
of lyrical hook and repetition;
excellent use of rhyme schemes;
lyrics are emotive and send a
clear message; good control of
voice eminent. Wordsmith:
Planning, drafting and editing
lyrical content evident. All
sections are extremely well
crafted.
Melody Barely Singable: Not
completely in key or
doesn’t fit the
chords well. Doesn’t
flow as well and
needs more
structural
organisation.
Somewhat singable: In
key; sometimes fits the
chords; some good use of
rhythm; sections flow
reasonably well together.
Quite Singable: In key
and some of it is catchy.
Melody notes fit the
chords with good rhythm;
sections flow well
together.
Very Singable: Phrases have good
contour; all notes and chords fit
the key structure; effective use of
Rhythms to bring out important
words; catchy riffs used; Verses
flow into the pre-chorus and
Chorus with careful crafting.
Professional: Phrases have
excellent contour and enhance
the lyrical content: Excellent use
of rhythms to emphasise
important words. All pitches
match the chord progression;
catchy melodic riff is evident
throughout the piece; Verse
melody is carefully crafted to
lead into a pre-chorus melody;
Chorus contains catchy melodic
content. Contains fresh ideas in
the bridge.

2. Arrangement Acceptable: One
instrument plays an
important part.
Simple and
somewhat effective
but could be
developed better.
Reasonable: Most parts
work together well. Some
interesting fills for
instrument parts.
Instruments provide some
support for the melody.
Very good: Instrument
choice and placement of
interesting riffs and fills
are well structured, clear
and organised. The parts
help to support the
melody.
Excellent: All instruments match
the chosen style; All voice and
instrument parts have distinct and
important roles which help to
create a well structured and
stylistic song.
Ready for the public:
Instruments have distinct and
important roles with memorable
solo(s). Dynamics, tempo, key
changes (optional) are well
crafted and deployed expertly
throughout the sections of the
song. Ready for recording.
Performance Attempted:
You/group had a go.
Balance was uneven
with some
instruments notable
louder/softer than
others. Time wasted
on getting
organised.
Solid attempt: You/group
got through the song from
start to end. Timing
relatively good but needs
more rehearsal to get the
song fluent.
House party ready: A
fluent performance with
everyone playing in time.
Sound is well balanced. A
serious attempt and with
a few more rehearsals
will achieve a great
performance.
Battle of the bands ready: An
enjoyable performance with all
musicians into the groove of the
song. Good stage presence by all
performers. All parts expertly
played, in time and well balanced.
A fluent, organised and
entertaining performance.
Ready for festivals: All
performers are organised, fluent
and stylistic. Positions and
movement on stage are well
thought out. Costumes are
vibrant and impressive. All
instruments are well balanced
with individual role parts coming
to the foreground when
required. Ready to record.
Musicianship Readable: Song is
written down; lyrics
are evident; some
evidence of chords
and melody
notation. No front
cover supplied.
Clear: Some structure
evident. Notation of
melody and rhythms are
clear and evenly spaced,
and match the word
syllables. Presentation
includes a front cover
with song title,
composer/s names but
with little effort made in
visual artwork.
Neat: Well laid out chord
symbols and notation.
Lyrics include syllable
hyphens and are evenly
spaced throughout the
bar. Presentation includes
a front cover with song
title, composer/s names
and some effort made in
visual artwork.
Well presented: Neat, correct
music notation; includes
accurately placed chord symbols
and headings; structure is clear
and includes clefs, key signature,
and time signature; Lyrics include
syllable hyphens and are evenly
spaced throughout the bar.
Includes all bar lines and repeat
signs. Presentation includes a
front cover with headings,
composer/s names and neat,
colourful artwork.
Professional: Attractive, flawless
music notation, chord symbols
and headings. Song structure
clear and well labelled.
Presentation includes a front
cover with carefully prepared
headings, labels, tributes,
composer/s names and artwork
of an excellent standard.