Assessing the Developing Child Musician: A Guide for General Music Teachers

This book is a guide which leads the general music specialist through the steps necessary to develop their own personal style of assessing students while working within the guidelines of local district standards; curriculum, state, and national standards; varying educational philosophies; and the school's adopted music series. From the foundations of assessment through development considerations to assessing each child as a performing, creating, and critically thinking/ respondingmusician, Brophy brings clear, in-depth explanations to the task followed by easily referenced chapter summaries, questions for clarification, questions for discussion, assessment practice, and suggestions on developing scoring guides and assessment tasks. Music portfolios and profiles are covered with real student samples.

Contents:
Chapter 1:
Foundations for Assessment in General Music, Why Assess At All, Defining a Personal Philosophy of Assessment, Assessment & Learning Theory- Constructivism & Objectivism, Assessment Measurement Evaluation & Reflection, Authentic Assessment in Music, Assessment Response Modes in Music, Objectivist-based Assessment in Music, Alternative Assessment in Music, Preparing for Assessment, Summary, Questions for Clarification, Questions for Discussion.

Chapter 2:
Developing and Managing Assessment Tasks - General Considerations. The Nature of Cognitive Musical Growth in Children - A Glimpse at the Research, Musical Learning Areas & Assessment Response Modes, The Classroom Assessment Environment, Measurement Issues- Ensuring Usable Results, How Much Time Should Be Allotted for Assessment, Assessment & Children With Special Needs, Integrated Projects, The Musical Aptitude Profile, Designing Single- & Multiple-Criterion Scoring Guides, The Keys to Keeping Track- Compatible Rubrics & Record Keeping Strategies, Data Collection Forms, Summary, Questions for Clarification, Questions for Discussion.

Chapter 3:
Assessing the Performing Child Musician.Related National Standards, Determining What Is Important to Assess, Assessment Models & Techniques, Assessing Enabling Competencies, Assessing Fundamental Aural Discriminations, Assessing Musical Concepts, Assessing Performance Technique, Technical Musical Skill Development, Vocal Pitch Accuracy- A Glimpse at the Research, Assessing Musical Qualities, Musical Skill Achievement, Keeping Track, Summary, Questions for Clarification, Questions for Discussion, Assessment Practice.

Chapter 4:
Assessing the Creating Child Musician.Related National Standards, The Nature of Musical Creativity- A Glimpse at the Research, Determining What Is Important to Assess, Models & Techniques, Assessing Children's Compositions,Guided Composition, Kindergarten & First Grade- Sequencing & Organizing Tasks Using the Pathway Model, The Pathway Model, The Given Rhythm Model, The Composed Rhythm Model, Assessing Children's Improvisation, Assessing Children'sArrangements, Summary, Questions for Clarification, Questions for Discussion, Assessment Practice.

Chapter 5:
Assessing the Critically Thinking/ Responding Child Musician.Related National Standards, Critical Thinking in Music- A Glimpse at the Research, What Is Critical Thinking in Music, It All Begins With a Prompt- Steps for PlanningCritical Thinking & Assessment, Establishing Product Evidence of the Musical Thinking Process in Critical Thinking Responses, Assessing Other Forms of Writing, An Alternative Verbal Assessment- The Concept Map, Other Considerations, Summary,Questions for Clarification, Questions for Discussion, Assessment Practice.

Chapter 6:
Portfolios & Profiles - Tying It All Together.What Is a Portfolio, Getting Started With Portfolio Building, Data Collection, From Filed to Portfolios, Organizing the Portfolio, Assessing the Completed Portfolio, Planning & Designing a Portfolio - Project for Your Teaching Situation, Portfolios & the "Traveling Teacher", Portfolios in Schools With Transient Populations, Looking Toward the Future- The Digital Music Portfolio, Reporting Musical Progress to Parents-The Developmental Profile, Advantages & Challenges of Developmental Progess Reporting, The Self-Assessment Progress Report, What If a Grade Must Be Given, Summary,;Assessment Practice.

Chapter 7:
Implementing a Total Assessment Program.Administering Tasks, Post-Task Adjustments, Administering Pilot Tasks & Benchmarking, Making a Plan for Implementing Assessment in the Classroom, Conclusion - Maintaining the Momentum.

Appendix A: Whitney's Portfolio.
Appendix B: Pooja's Portfolio, Organizing Pages.
Appendix C: Answers to Questions for Clarification.