Comments on: Should We Be Grading Our Students At Young Ages? http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/2010/03/should-we-be-grading-our-students-at-young-ages/ Information and free lesson plans and resources for music teachers Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:59:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Chelci http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/2010/03/should-we-be-grading-our-students-at-young-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-7760 Chelci Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:45:03 +0000 http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/?p=388#comment-7760 I am also a university student and we have been looking into the topic of grading in music during our applied music seminar class. My question is, if you have a student that is truly dedicated and works very hard to improve on their instrument, how is it fair for them to receive the same grade as someone who doesn’t work hard and only picks up their instrument during class or lessons? I feel that there should be grades but they should be a little subjective due to the student you are working with. I think a student should be graded based on their progress and effort. I think the student that practices outside of class and works very hard to improve has earned the A, but the one that only picks up their instrument in class does not deserve the same grade because they are not putting in the same amount of effort and more often than not will not be making the same amount of progress due to lack of effort. Also, are we really doing these students a favor by passing them on with A’s if they are really struggling? Would it be more crushing for them to find out they aren’t cut out, either on their instrument or for music in general, earlier or later? My opinion is that we should give the student who shows no effort a lower grade. Sometimes that is enough motivation to get them to practice, or realize that they don’t actually want to be involved in music. I don’t think we are helping students by giving them grades that don’t reflect the effort and progress they have actually made. I am also a university student and we have been looking into the topic of grading in music during our applied music seminar class. My question is, if you have a student that is truly dedicated and works very hard to improve on their instrument, how is it fair for them to receive the same grade as someone who doesn’t work hard and only picks up their instrument during class or lessons? I feel that there should be grades but they should be a little subjective due to the student you are working with. I think a student should be graded based on their progress and effort. I think the student that practices outside of class and works very hard to improve has earned the A, but the one that only picks up their instrument in class does not deserve the same grade because they are not putting in the same amount of effort and more often than not will not be making the same amount of progress due to lack of effort. Also, are we really doing these students a favor by passing them on with A’s if they are really struggling? Would it be more crushing for them to find out they aren’t cut out, either on their instrument or for music in general, earlier or later? My opinion is that we should give the student who shows no effort a lower grade. Sometimes that is enough motivation to get them to practice, or realize that they don’t actually want to be involved in music. I don’t think we are helping students by giving them grades that don’t reflect the effort and progress they have actually made.

]]> By: Chris http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/2010/03/should-we-be-grading-our-students-at-young-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-7541 Chris Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:20:49 +0000 http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/?p=388#comment-7541 In terms of skill development, I think that having objective standards has its place, even with young students. When I had an advanced recorder group of 4th and 5th graders,for example, I required that they be able to play a particular piece from beginning to end without stops before they could be in the group. They didn't take it personally if they weren't ready--they practiced. But people (students and their parents) tend to see their musical abilities as a function of "talent"--which they also consider a fixed thing. This is probably especially true of singing. Receiving a low grade could be experienced as defining--and deeply discouraging--for anyone, at any level. I avoid it as a method of assessment. In terms of skill development, I think that having objective standards has its place, even with young students. When I had an advanced recorder group of 4th and 5th graders,for example, I required that they be able to play a particular piece from beginning to end without stops before they could be in the group. They didn’t take it personally if they weren’t ready–they practiced.

But people (students and their parents) tend to see their musical abilities as a function of “talent”–which they also consider a fixed thing. This is probably especially true of singing. Receiving a low grade could be experienced as defining–and deeply discouraging–for anyone, at any level. I avoid it as a method of assessment.

]]> By: Brooke http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/2010/03/should-we-be-grading-our-students-at-young-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-7341 Brooke Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:05:44 +0000 http://www.funmusicco.com/musicteachersblog/?p=388#comment-7341 I was really intrigued by this article. As a university student pursuing a degree in Music Ed. I have not had opportunity to deal with this first hand but we have recently been discussing the helpfulness and effectiveness of grading in one of my classes. I agree with the fact that giving a young student a low grade could be more harmful than helpful. Music is such a unique and powerful way for children to express themselves that penalizing them for learning at a different pace or in a different way than other students seems harsh. As long as young students are willing to learn and seem truly interested, I feel that grading is simply a waste of time and effort. Of course assessment is important to gauge their progress but grades do not seem that helpful to me. I was really intrigued by this article. As a university student pursuing a degree in Music Ed. I have not had opportunity to deal with this first hand but we have recently been discussing the helpfulness and effectiveness of grading in one of my classes. I agree with the fact that giving a young student a low grade could be more harmful than helpful. Music is such a unique and powerful way for children to express themselves that penalizing them for learning at a different pace or in a different way than other students seems harsh. As long as young students are willing to learn and seem truly interested, I feel that grading is simply a waste of time and effort. Of course assessment is important to gauge their progress but grades do not seem that helpful to me.

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