Burrack- Assessment

MUSIC 23241: MUSIC TEACHING AS A PROFESSION

Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, Assistant Professor

Kent State University School of Music

Fall, 2011

CRN:  200910 – Section number: 001 – Class Days: TR 7:45a – 8:35 am - Classroom: SOM E202

Office: Band Office - 330.672.2965 - Telephone: 330.672.2965 (Kent Campus) - E-mail: mneiman@kent.edu

Office Hours: TR 9:00 – 9:55 am (Additional hours available by appointment)

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BlackBoard and Text Readings

Submitted by:  Emily Young

Submitted for: Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, lecturer

Date: October 20, 2011

Burrack, Fredrick.  (2002).  Enhanced assesment in instrumental music programs.

Music Educators Journal, (May), Pages 27-32.

            In this article, Fredrick Burrack describes a way that music teachers can make assessments in their ensemble.  In this method of assessment students would keep a portfolio that will perdiodically be checked by the teacher.  Students would be required to listen to recordings of their individual persormance and ensemble performance.  After listening to these recordings they would make a comment on the performance in several different categories and file these comments in their portfolio.  This is a great way to keep the students engaged in every piece that is done in the ensemble.

            The portfolios can provide solid evidence that the students are learning and doing work in their music classes.  This kind of evidence is always needed to prove the importance of music in a child’s education.  Students can gain a much broader understanding of muic by being forced to listen and pay attention to different aspects of the music.  By evaluating themselves students in ensembles would be much more willing to make the steps that are necessary to create a better sound.  The portfolios will also give the director a much better understanding of the knowledge and abilities of their students.   

            I feel that these portfolios are a fantastic idea.  A director could use these portfolios in so many different ways. For example, students could do some research on composers and put that in their portfolio.  Sometimes it is very difficult to get the students to listen and react to the director’s instruction; self assessment is a fantastic way to work around that barrier.  Portfolios are a great way for the student and teacher to get a good sense of organization.  This is absolutely a form of assessment that I will use in any ensembles I direct in the future.