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R ehe arsal Br e ak
Rehearsal Break

learning management system, providing you with the conferences, especially if they can see trends and prog-
capabilities to easily create activities, assignments, and ress in their child’s educational experiences in choir.
assessments.
Self-assessment is always included in my post-per-
formance routine. I have a pre-made Google Form du- Assessments in Connecting
plicated and adjusted for each performance that asks Connecting has always proven difficult to assess
questions about their recent experiences at the per- without assigning large papers or projects, and I used
formance and throughout the rehearsal process. I also to think that I could not spare that valuable instruction
have singers set specific individual goals to work on be- time. However, after experiencing a shift in priorities
fore the next performance, giving me insight into their during my early teaching years, I began to include a
concerns, priorities, and musical understanding. The few graded tasks throughout my regular teaching. Al-
bulk of the self-assessment reflection instructs the stu- most immediately I noticed a difference in the way
dents to rate themselves in areas I have identified as my students discussed music and culture, so I began ded-
focus objectives for the year. Some examples include icating time in my curriculum to teach and assess the
pitch, behavior, sight-reading, and musical notation. As Connecting strand (Table 5).
a bonus, parents have usually shown more interest and A favorite assessment to reinforce historical and cul-
support when I bring the responses to parent-teacher tural context in our music and community is a collabo-

Table 5. Connecting Table and NCAS Anchor Standards

Connecting

Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal
Anchor Standard 10
experiences to make art.

Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and
Anchor Standard 11
historic context to deepen understanding.

Example Content Anchor Standard Sample Assessment Tool or Strategy

Historical/Cultural Context: 10, 11 *Collaborative slideshow Mentimeter, Nearpod,
Evaluate knowledge of music on an era, style, or culture; Google Slides
history, styles, and cultural Present at PTC
influences

Personal Connection: Applying 10 * Self “interview” on a Google Docs or Forms;
meaningful transfers between class song; video project
personal experiences and “new hit single”
musical literature.

*Indicates sample assessments that could easily be used as sub plans

46 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2025 Volume 66 Number 3