The tweetles, trills, blats, waa-waas, and crashes of Florida's band students may soon be measurable via a standardized exam:
It won't resonate as loudly as the FCAT, but Florida schoolchildren could soon face a new test of how well they're learning music. The test is being developed by two statewide groups of music teachers who see it as a way of reinforcing the importance of music in a well-rounded education and measuring how well it is being taught around Florida."Music educators are accountable every time their students step up on the stage, but they felt they needed a more formal way (to measure their learning)," said Timothy Brophy, a University of Florida assistant professor of music education, in a telephone interview from Gainesville...
The first phase of the music tests could begin in fourth and eighth grades as soon as 2007 if all goes as planned. It will consist of a paper-and-pencil test in which pupils respond to a series of questions recorded on a compact disc, including musical passages.
Brophy said the next two phases of the testing program are expected to include actual musical performances that would be recorded and compared with a standard for the appropriate grade level.
Tests for music students in other parts of the country should be modified to conform to local standards and tastes. For example, band geeks in South Dakota should be tested on their awareness of just how seductive the saxophone can be.
Posted by kswygert at December 21, 2005 10:05 AM