# Transcript

### Introduction to Assessment in secondary music by Gary Spruce

My experience of teaching in secondary schools taught me that assessment is one of the most difficult tasks for music teachers. Often what you want and need to assess in music does not map well onto the general school assessment systems. And the demands of these systems can lead to assessment which is inherently unmusical. For me it is important then that music teachers understand what assessment in music education is for and how it is best carried out in the classroom.

Music teachers need to make the case for approaches to assessment in music that support young people’s musical development and that assess musical learning through musical means. Some creativity is needed in crafting these assessment systems.

This course is aimed at beginner teachers of music in secondary schools. It starts by looking at different forms and functions of assessment, what teachers should be assessing in music, how to make assessment musical. From there it identifies key approaches to assessment in the music classroom which will support young people’s musical development and the key aspect here is involving young people themselves in the assessment processes.

Finally, the unit explores how assessment can be used to help teachers plan for further musical development, not to mention fostering a better understanding of the young people we teach.

Assessment is important and this approach should stimulate your thinking around this tricky area of teaching.