Information about Music Theory Assessment
Assessing the music literacy of our students, especially in the typical large performance ensemble, is one of the most difficult tasks that a band, choir, or orchestra teacher faces. As our educational world becomes more and more data-driven, music teachers must find ways to quantify the success that their students are experiencing and be able to assess a large number of students quickly and effectively. The use of various software and web-based technologies is an increasingly important way to assess students' mastery of music theory concepts. In this section of assessmusic.com, teachers will find many tools that will assist them in assessing music theory in the classroom. Resources explored include: Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Practica Musica, Sibelius (Musition & Auralia), Finale (Music Education Worksheets), musictheory.net, various iPad/iPhone Apps, and more.
ALFRED'S ESSENTIALS OF MUSIC THEORY
Alfred’s Essential’s of Music Theory is an award-winning, professionally produced music theory software program by Alfred Music Publishing, one of the largest music education companies in the world. It features a self-paced, intuitive interface and numerous activities to teach students everything they need to know about music theory from note names to figured bass. As an assessment tool for music educators, it includes excellent options to customize lessons and tests as well as enhanced group maintenance features for educators to organize and track multiple students' progress through their network.
Alfred’s Essential’s of Music Theory is an award-winning, professionally produced music theory software program by Alfred Music Publishing, one of the largest music education companies in the world. It features a self-paced, intuitive interface and numerous activities to teach students everything they need to know about music theory from note names to figured bass. As an assessment tool for music educators, it includes excellent options to customize lessons and tests as well as enhanced group maintenance features for educators to organize and track multiple students' progress through their network.
PRACTICA MUSICA
Practica Musica is a complete music theory and ear training tutor that has been around for quite some time, but is still being used in many high schools and universities to formally assess theory skills. It contains over 200 activities for both beginning and advanced students. The program includes several organized courses: Steps to Reading Music, an AP prep course, and Exploring Theory, which is based on the music fundamentals book "Exploring Theory with Practica Musica." The book contains numerous audio-visual examples and is included in digital format with the program. Practica Musica features unique rhythm tapping activities, complete notation tools, 4-part dictation and much more.
Practica Musica is a complete music theory and ear training tutor that has been around for quite some time, but is still being used in many high schools and universities to formally assess theory skills. It contains over 200 activities for both beginning and advanced students. The program includes several organized courses: Steps to Reading Music, an AP prep course, and Exploring Theory, which is based on the music fundamentals book "Exploring Theory with Practica Musica." The book contains numerous audio-visual examples and is included in digital format with the program. Practica Musica features unique rhythm tapping activities, complete notation tools, 4-part dictation and much more.
SIBELIUS RESOURCES (MUSITION & AURALIA)
Avid, the makers of the world's best selling music notation software Sibelius, have also created a suite of software programs specifically for music education. Musition and Auralia are music theory and ear training programs that use more than just the "drill and kill" methods we remember as young music students. They lead students through a variety of exercises and assessments, giving instant feedback to both students and teacher. Complete with 34 topics and sophisticated record keeping features, Musition and Auralia are the ultimate music theory training and testing duo!
Avid, the makers of the world's best selling music notation software Sibelius, have also created a suite of software programs specifically for music education. Musition and Auralia are music theory and ear training programs that use more than just the "drill and kill" methods we remember as young music students. They lead students through a variety of exercises and assessments, giving instant feedback to both students and teacher. Complete with 34 topics and sophisticated record keeping features, Musition and Auralia are the ultimate music theory training and testing duo!
FINALE RESOURCES (MUSIC EDUCATION WORKSHEETS)
Although many music educators use Finale on a daily basis for music notation, there are also a number of educational aspects of the program. Finale’s easy to use educator features help you customize music curriculum to meet the individual needs of all your students. Hundreds of ready-made, educator-approved, customizable worksheets are included in Finale. Print them out or distribute them via email to be opened and printed with the free Finale NotePad. Also included are hundreds of individual and classroom flash cards, 30 ear-training worksheets, and pieces of repertoire.
Although many music educators use Finale on a daily basis for music notation, there are also a number of educational aspects of the program. Finale’s easy to use educator features help you customize music curriculum to meet the individual needs of all your students. Hundreds of ready-made, educator-approved, customizable worksheets are included in Finale. Print them out or distribute them via email to be opened and printed with the free Finale NotePad. Also included are hundreds of individual and classroom flash cards, 30 ear-training worksheets, and pieces of repertoire.
MUSICTHEORY.NET
Ricci Adams' musictheory.net is a free website devoted to the study of music theory and ear training. Through a breadth of content, students can learn music theory concepts by completing the self-paced lessons and also practice note identification, key signatures, intervals, chords, etc., using easy to navigate exercises. This website has become a standard resource for high school and college music theory teachers, but can also easily be used in a performance ensemble. A "For Teachers" area contains an Exercise Customizer where music teachers can create a permanent link to assessments that they create for their students.
Ricci Adams' musictheory.net is a free website devoted to the study of music theory and ear training. Through a breadth of content, students can learn music theory concepts by completing the self-paced lessons and also practice note identification, key signatures, intervals, chords, etc., using easy to navigate exercises. This website has become a standard resource for high school and college music theory teachers, but can also easily be used in a performance ensemble. A "For Teachers" area contains an Exercise Customizer where music teachers can create a permanent link to assessments that they create for their students.
IPAD AND IPHONE APPS
As the iPad and iPhone become commonplace in our students' lives, many software makers have begun to develop apps to help enhance the music education curriculum. Self-assessment (in addition to more formal teacher-led assessment) is also a very critical component to music education. By tapping into a technology that is already in most students' pockets, teachers can help students learn this skill in a way that can be very effective. Click here to see some of our favorites apps that can help your students assess on their own!
As the iPad and iPhone become commonplace in our students' lives, many software makers have begun to develop apps to help enhance the music education curriculum. Self-assessment (in addition to more formal teacher-led assessment) is also a very critical component to music education. By tapping into a technology that is already in most students' pockets, teachers can help students learn this skill in a way that can be very effective. Click here to see some of our favorites apps that can help your students assess on their own!
MUSIC THEORY RUBRICS
Quality rubrics are essential to quality assessments. Each area of assessmusic.com contains a section devoted specifically to rubrics. Please feel free to use these in your own teaching and share some of your own! Click here to explore our rubrics section.
Quality rubrics are essential to quality assessments. Each area of assessmusic.com contains a section devoted specifically to rubrics. Please feel free to use these in your own teaching and share some of your own! Click here to explore our rubrics section.