Assessment (student) Archives - Band Directors Talk Shop https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/category/assessment/ Learn. Share. Inspire. Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:03:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2-2-150x150.png Assessment (student) Archives - Band Directors Talk Shop https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/category/assessment/ 32 32 A Second Technique to Help Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Power Pose https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/help-students-overcome-performance-anxiety-power-pose/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/help-students-overcome-performance-anxiety-power-pose/#respond Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:54:27 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=14017 After I’ve taught kids all about their “inner superpower” (which you can read about here), the next step is the help them learn to further handle the physical aspects of performance anxiety in the moments before a big performance. This lesson is taken from the wonderful TED talk by Amy Cuddy. More on that in ... Read More about A Second Technique to Help Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Power Pose

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/help-students-overcome-performance-anxiety-power-pose/feed/ 0 One Technique to Help Band Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Inner Superhero https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-help-band-students-overcome-performance-anxiety/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-help-band-students-overcome-performance-anxiety/#respond Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:25:21 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=14010 Here’s one concrete technique to help band students overcome performance anxiety. I usually teach this concept to 6th grade beginners in the spring so they can continue to utilize it as they get older and have higher stakes performances. This is how I explain it to a class: So, solo performances are next week. It’s ... Read More about One Technique to Help Band Students Overcome Performance Anxiety: Inner Superhero

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/how-to-help-band-students-overcome-performance-anxiety/feed/ 0 7 Ideas to Reinvent-Revitalize-Rejuice Your Program’s Handbook https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/7-ideas-to-reinvent-revitalize-rejuice-your-handbook-blog-article-cuttime/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/7-ideas-to-reinvent-revitalize-rejuice-your-handbook-blog-article-cuttime/#respond Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:49:54 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=13785 Handbooks. An absolutely ‘necessary tool’ for classroom success or a completely ‘antiquated practice’ you’d sooner just skip? I’m guessing you’ve probably identified with both of these camps at some point in your teaching career. On the one hand, a program handbook is truly ground zero for communicating your expectations and procedures in and outside the ... Read More about 7 Ideas to Reinvent-Revitalize-Rejuice Your Program’s Handbook

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/7-ideas-to-reinvent-revitalize-rejuice-your-handbook-blog-article-cuttime/feed/ 0 Scale of the Week! (Quick Tip) https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/scale-of-the-week-quick-tip/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/scale-of-the-week-quick-tip/#respond Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:22:31 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=13805 Looking for a way to rotate through the scales and improve technique? Consider assigning a scale of the week. Teach or review it on Monday, practice it Tues/Wed/Thur and assess it on Friday. Ideas for assessments: Hear one section at a time. Play “drop out.“ Play “drop out” speed version (speed up the met until ... Read More about Scale of the Week! (Quick Tip)

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/scale-of-the-week-quick-tip/feed/ 0 March Madness Fun for Your Band! 3 Engaging Resources to Review Music Theory & Encourage Practice https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/march-madness-fun-for-your-band-3-engaging-resources-to-review-music-theory-encourage-practice/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/march-madness-fun-for-your-band-3-engaging-resources-to-review-music-theory-encourage-practice/#respond Sat, 22 Mar 2025 15:12:11 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=13603 March Madness is here! While basketball fans gear up for the NCAA college basketball finals, why not bring a little of that competitive spirit into your band program? Here are three fun resources to get your students excited about music during March Madness! 1. Music Symbols Madness This engaging activity helps students review music symbols ... Read More about March Madness Fun for Your Band! 3 Engaging Resources to Review Music Theory & Encourage Practice

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/march-madness-fun-for-your-band-3-engaging-resources-to-review-music-theory-encourage-practice/feed/ 0 Pedagogical Practices to Maximize Precious Rehearsal Time! https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/pedagogical-practices-to-maximize-precious-rehearsal-time/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/pedagogical-practices-to-maximize-precious-rehearsal-time/#respond Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:57:08 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12893 When I recently gave this presentation at Midwest, my audience survey reflected the wide discrepancy in the amount of rehearsal time that exists at all school levels throughout the country. Despite the limited time we get to teach a larger number of students than an average class size, we are the only subject that has ... Read More about Pedagogical Practices to Maximize Precious Rehearsal Time!

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/pedagogical-practices-to-maximize-precious-rehearsal-time/feed/ 0 Beyond Measure: “UnGrading” Your Classroom https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-measure-ungrading-your-classroom/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-measure-ungrading-your-classroom/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:46:51 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12881 “OK class, today is practice chart turn-in day.” Audible groans and murmurs came from the band. As I began collecting the monthly practice charts I noticed Spencer writing “20 minutes” in every box on the chart. I moved in on his position like a stealthy cougar, ready to pounce. With a triumphant “A-Ha!” I snatched ... Read More about Beyond Measure: “UnGrading” Your Classroom

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-measure-ungrading-your-classroom/feed/ 0 Practicing with Purpose – What’s the Big IDEA? https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practicing-with-purpose-whats-the-big-idea/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practicing-with-purpose-whats-the-big-idea/#respond Sat, 01 Apr 2023 23:51:35 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12297 Have you ever had a student lie on a practice record? Would you like to see your students become more independent in their at home practice? It’s safe to assume the answer to both questions is a resounding “YES!” and that’s where the Big IDEA comes in. IDEA is an acronym designed to help teach ... Read More about Practicing with Purpose – What’s the Big IDEA?

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/practicing-with-purpose-whats-the-big-idea/feed/ 0 Beyond “Gamification” https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-gamification/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-gamification/#respond Tue, 31 Jan 2023 02:00:28 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=12146 Video games are a waste of time for men with nothing else to do. Real brains don’t do that.       ~ Ray Bradbury Video games have been blamed for many things in our modern society, but I offer a radically different view: I think that video games are far from the problem… in fact, they ... Read More about Beyond “Gamification”

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]]> https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/beyond-gamification/feed/ 0 6 Benefits of Adding Rhythm Ear Training to Your Band Curriculum https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/6-benefits-of-adding-rhythm-ear-training-to-your-band-curriculum/ https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/6-benefits-of-adding-rhythm-ear-training-to-your-band-curriculum/#respond Sat, 01 May 2021 21:32:28 +0000 https://banddirectorstalkshop.com/?p=10437 According to Wikipedia, “Ear training (or aural skills) is a music theory study in which musicians learn to identify pitches, intervals, melody, chords, rhythms, solfeges, and other basic elements of music, solely by hearing. The application of this skill is analogous to taking dictation in written/spoken language. As a process, ear training is in essence ... Read More about 6 Benefits of Adding Rhythm Ear Training to Your Band Curriculum

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