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Performance critique peer

____________________

Critiquing performance of

Beginning the peer critique process:

• Author/performer takes a few minutes to center and loosen up.
• Author/performer presents aloud to peer(s), conscious of voice and body use.
• Peer critic gives performer rapt attention, making notes of any general impressions.
• After watching and listening to the performance, critic shares at least two positive comments with performer, then takes a few minutes to complete the remainder of the checklist.
• As time allows, performer can re-present to work with critic's suggestions.

You, the peer critic, will be evaluated on the clarity and helpfulness of your critique of your colleague's performance. Remember that performers are always vulnerable and sensitive to criticism, often (especially?) even if they themselves deny it. Be sure that your comments support your colleagues' strengths and help them improve.

Complete the following sentence and read it aloud to the performer you have observed: "______________, in your presence I move toward your _____________________."

(performer’s name) (quality of presence)

Repeat this sentence if you wish to remark on more than one quality.

How does the performer gather the audience's attention before beginning? How does the performer end the presentation?

How does the performer use his/her presence immediately before the beginning and after the ending?

How does the performer allow the audience to communicate with her/him? Does the performer present her/himself to the audience as a peer, an expert, a supplicant? How does the performer make use of audience responses?

What was the performer's most effective use of gesture or movement?

Where in the body does this performer hold tension? Does that tension support the performance, or should the performer work on letting that go?

Does the presentation have a clear climax about two-thirds of the way through? How does the performer lead up and away from the climax?

For singing: Has the performer set an effective tempo for the song? Does the performer keep an even tempo, or does he/she slow down or speed up? Are you able to follow the song's rhythm and structure?

For speech: How does the performer use temporal phrasing to enhance meaning?

Can you hear easily and understand?

How does the performer exploit the music of consonants (in either speaking or singing)?

Does the performer use supportive deep breathing throughout? If not, where could breathing awareness be enhanced?

What types of vocal resonance (nose, throat, chest, etc.) do you notice? Which are most effective and why?

For singing: Has the performer chosen a comfortable vocal range for the song? If not, is it too high or too low?

For speech: how does the performer's pitch range enhance the effectiveness of the presentation? Where could it be improved?

What emotions does the performer communicate? How does the performer allow the audience to share those emotions?

How does the performer express her/his passion for the subject matter? How does that passion manifest itself in the performance?