Music Discipline Assessment Annual Report 2008-2009
1. Music
discipline objectives
Objectives for the Music Major:
1.
Musicianship: Students will
demonstrate proficiency in vocal, aural and keyboard skills.
2.
Performance: In their area of
specialization students will confidently interpret and perform a wide range of
music literature in a public venue.
3.
Music in Historic and Cultural
Context: Students will listen to and write about music critically and will be
able to apply stylistic principles to music they perform.
4.
Music Theory: Students will have a
command of undergraduate music theory including contrapuntal techniques and
musical forms.
Objectives
for the General Education student:
Students will critically explore
music in one or more of the following ways depending on
objectives
for the various courses:
1.
By becoming familiar with musical repertory through critical listening to
representative
examples.
2.
By investigating the relationship between music and culture.
3.
By developing basic skills in music notation, analysis, and composition.
4.
By interpreting and performing a variety of solo and/or ensemble musical
repertory
in their specialization.
2.
Course-embedded assessment.
In addition to
regular assessment and testing, separate pre-test/post-tests covering Mus
1101-1102 Music Theory and Mus 2101-2102 Music Theory have been in use since
2004. Both tests attempt to measure student progress in conceptual and
practical aspects of harmony and analysis.
Mus 1041 Introduction
to Music was assessed 2008-2009. See attached documentation.
3.
Direct measures of student learning
Each semester - Performance of five
to six minute Vocal or Instrumental Finals in front of applied music faculty with
evaluation forms. Faculty debated whether Finals procedures need to be uniform
across areas of specialization. At present they are not. Something to think
about in the future is to see what is uniform and what is not uniform and how
this affects student outcomes. Part of the difficulty with the forms is how to
be general but still get enough specific evaluative comments to the student.
End of Second Semester Assessment
– These are a separate evaluation form for first year majors used as part
of finals. Assessment is done to be certain a student should continue as a
major in the area of specialization. Two copies of the assessment are made. One
is for music discipline assessment files and the other is for the student
portfolio. They are intended to provide a benchmark for students to see their
own progress and for faculty to track improvement. The faculty member in charge
of assessment will maintain the discipline assessment files.
End of second year – The Jury
is a 20 minute performance in the Recital Hall with evaluation by the music
faculty. Three style periods are required. Vocalists and pianists perform from
memory. The new Jury Evaluation
form for assessment now uses two copies of the faculty comments. One copy, kept
by the discipline, provides documentation of faculty evaluations and the other
provides a valuable document for the student to use in the student portfolio.
The change to this format provides more information to both the music faculty
and to the student.
End of fourth year - Assessment
of Portfolio Project. The portfolio contains a resume, course syllabi,
programs, and much more. It was
decided that a change is needed in the catalog to make the portfolio part of
the senior project. This is what the Art History Discipline does so there is a
precedent. The plan is to have in the Music Student Handbook that students need
to check in with their portfolio with their advisors at the end of each year up
to the senior year when the portfolio is included as part of the senior
project.
Senior Project/Capstone experience –
senior project is an hour long recital or project. The recital is a vocal or
instrumental recital representing at least three style periods. Vocal and piano
recitals are performed from memory.
Assessment of Handbook – the
handbook is an effective tool to help students learn what is expected of them
as majors. Changes include adding a heading for Portfolio and one for the End
of Second Semester Evaluation. Other changes will include outlining assessment
procedures, clarifying music discipline policies, and formatting the Music
Handbook as an online resource.
4. Assessment Objectives for Music
Education Students – faculty agreed that certification is the objective
for now. The music discipline will continue to work on this item.
5.
Annual Assessment meeting with the music faculty was held March 26, 2009.
Assessment Committee meeting for the annual report was held May 12, 2009.