Assessment Project The following results come from the fourth grade general music class.

The class has been playing the recorder since mid-February. Overall, the primary objects of this lesson are reading music while playing an instrument, playing the notes and rhythms accurately, and playing the notes with correct tonguing and embouchure. Additionally, the students are responsible for taking their music and instrument home to practice. Practicing not only improves their overall musical ability, but also teaches them the skills of diligence and perseverance. Their pre-test consisted observing the class as a whole as the class sight-read the music. This allowed me to see where each students approximate level of understanding without the pressure of playing privately or in a small group. The post-test consisted of the students playing Gently Sleep in groups of three so I can better assess each students comprehension.

Pre-Test 2 = 100% 20 = 85% 3 = 0%

Mean: 76% Median: 85% Mode: 85% Range: 100%

Post-Test 17 = 100% 7 = 85% 1 = 0%

Mean: 92% Median: 100% Mode: 100% Range: 100%

Student 25 Student 24 Student 23 Student 22 Student 21 Student 20 Student 19 Student 18 Student 17 Student 16 Student 15 Student 14 Student 13 Student 12 Student 11 Student 10 Student 9 Student 8 Student 7 Student 6 Student 5 Student 4 Student 3 Student 2 Student 1 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Post-Assessment Pre-Assessment

120%

100%

80%

60%

Pre-Assessment Post-Assessment

40%

20%

0% Mean Median Mode Range

In general, each students playing ability increased over the course of the unit plan. The students showed the most growth in the areas concerning pitch and rhythmic accuracy. The results of both the pre-test and the post-test displayed the students who practiced and the students who did not. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of students who practiced their music between the pre-test and the post-test. All of the students who received an 85% or lower on the post-test either did not practice or did not have their recorder on the day of the playing test. If I were to teach this lesson again, I would go into greater detail of how and why to practice. This being the first instrument most of the students learn, they do not yet understand that practicing is like doing their homework; they cannot just do it at school they must do it at home otherwise it will not get done. I believe this information has proven to be very useful for me, so I can better learn how to teach students a new instrument, and how to practice that instrument.