Assessing Dynamics

In teaching music, assessment of the student's knowledge is relatively easy. There are a multitude of ways that you can use to determine if your students know that forte means loud.

Knowing the terms is an important first step, but we need to take students beyond the knowledge level (or "remembering" in the newer version) to the higher levels where they are able to apply what they know.

POINTING PAGES

For very young students, pointing pages are a great way to determine if they can listen to music and perceive if the music is "loud" or "quiet." Give each child a pointing page, and play one or more selections of music. As the students listen, have them point to the dynamic level that they hear.

You can assess by observing the students as they point, and use this information to determine if they really understand the concept, or if re-teaching is necessary.

Dynamic Symbol Cards:

For older students, give each child a set of dynamic symbol cards. To assess their knowledge of the dynamics terms, call out a term and have them hold up the symbol that matches the term.

Another good exercise is to ask the students to arrange the symbol cards from quietest to loudest.

When you can tell that they do understand the terms and symbols, use these symbol cards to assess their perception in a piece of music. Play a piece of music with a variety of dynamic levels. As the students listen, they point to the dynamic level that they hear.

If you want to do this as a written assessment, create a grid, play the piece of music and at a given signal (play a bell, or wave a ribbon) the students write in the grid, the dynamic level they heard at that point in the music.

These ideas (and more!) plus class sets of pointing pages, class sets of piano-forte cards for your younger students, and class sets of dynamic symbol cards are included in the Dynamics Assessment Kit.

This kit will make your assessment of Dynamics meaningful! You can find it here!