School Assessments

If you are teaching high school students, chances are they will be doing some kind of assessment for their music class.  In New Zealand, even if senior students aren’t taking music as a subject, they are still able (depending on school policy) to gain NCEA credits for solo and group performance.

As their teacher, you need to find out a few things:

• ·         When is the performance (date and time)?
• ·         What pieces do they need to play?
• ·         Do they need accompaniment? (and do they need to provide their own or will the school provide one?)
• ·         What criteria are they being assessed on?

If the student doesn’t know this information, email or call their school music teacher.  They’ll have it in writing.

With your student, work out an appropriate rehearsal schedule, using the criteria to guide what you focus on.  Yes, this is what teachers refer to as “teaching to the test”, but your student is being tested on these criteria.  You have myriad other opportunities to work on other aspects of their music education.

If your student needs an accompanist, and it’s not you, make sure they have ample opportunity to practice with them.