Byo- Designing substantive playing tests

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)

BlackBoard and Text Readings

Submitted by:  Emily Young

Submitted for: Mr. Marcus L. Neiman, lecturer

Date: October 27, 2011

Byo, James L.  (2001).  Designing substantive playing tests- a model.

Music Educators Journal, (September), Pages 39-44.

            In this article, Byo offers advice to band directors on having students take playing tests.  These playing tests require a student to play a chorale and the director will grade it based on assessment goals he/she has created for the students.  These tests can help to ensure that each member of the ensemble is understanding and enforcing the performance goals they are learning.   These tests can even be administered during rehearsal time with little to no disruption.  The students would be required to go into a testing room, in which they would play their piece while being recorded on a sound or video recording device.

            Assessment was not a regular occurrence in my high school choir.  Our grade was mostly based on whether or not we showed up to the concert.  There were some other things that our director could lower grades for, but the grading procedure was not clear to the students.  I have taken very few singing tests at the college level.  Testing in this manner can definitely be done for choral students, and may be useful to me in any future ensembles I direct.

            I feel that this kind of testing can have several positive effects on an ensemble.  If I was tested regularly on my chorale pieces, I would definitely spend a lot more time working on them outside of class.   I feel that directors should definitely be very aware of the skills and abilities of each member in the ensemble.  In my opinion, one must be able to sing or play independently before they can sing or play confidently in an ensemble.  Providing the students with feedback on their individual performance can help create a much better ensemble sound.