Rubric - Drum Set (Rock/Pop) Audition Rubric

A traditional 4-level, 100-point rock and pop drum set audition rubric scoring kit technique, groove execution and fills, time and pocket, backbeat tone and dynamics, and style versatility.
4 - Exceeds Expectation 3 - Meets Expectation 2 - Approaching Expectation 1 - Below Expectation
Grooves, Fills, Chart Reading & Play-Along
100%
__________________________________________________________
Kit Technique & Stroke Control
20%
20 Points
Relaxed, powerful technique with fully controlled hand and foot strokes; doubles, heel-toe and ghost notes are all clean....
15 Points
Solid technique with good stroke control; one limb is slightly less developed at speed....
10 Points
Technique is tense or uneven; stroke heights and foot control are inconsistent....
0 Points
Technique cannot support the material; strokes are uncontrolled....
Groove Execution & Fills
20%
20 Points
Grooves are locked, stylistically ideal and impeccably consistent; fills are creative, clean and always land on time....
15 Points
Grooves are accurate and consistent; fills are clean though somewhat stock....
10 Points
Grooves shift or lose consistency and fills disturb the time or over-run the phrase....
0 Points
Grooves cannot be sustained and fills derail the performance....
Time, Pocket & Click Accuracy
20%
20 Points
Metronomic time with a deep pocket; sits perfectly with a click or track and holds tempo through every section....
15 Points
Steady time and good pocket; slight drift at section changes or after fills....
10 Points
Time fluctuates noticeably and the pocket does not settle; the click is fought rather than followed....
0 Points
Cannot hold tempo or play with a click; time is unusable....
Tone, Backbeat Power & Dynamics
20%
20 Points
Draws a big, recorded-quality sound with a commanding backbeat and precisely controlled dynamics including ghost notes and accents....
15 Points
Good tone and a strong backbeat; dynamic contrast is clear but the quietest playing is less controlled....
10 Points
Tone is inconsistent, the backbeat is weak or overplayed, and dynamics stay flat....
0 Points
Tone is poor and dynamics show no control; everything is played at one volume....
Style Versatility & Performance Energy
20%
20 Points
Authentically covers rock, pop, funk and shuffle feels with commanding energy and complete professional polish....
15 Points
Handles the main styles convincingly with strong, consistent performance energy....
10 Points
One or two styles are approximated and performance energy fluctuates....
0 Points
No stylistic versatility and no performance energy or commitment....