Cumulative Rhythm Evaluation System to Assess Comprehension

Purpose of Assessment Tools:

• Evaluate rhythm comprehension and sight reading skill level to assess individual members band level or ensemble chair placement.
• A tool to measure the successful teaching of rhythms to individual members of an ensemble. Since there is more than one tool, they can be used for both pre-evaluation, mid-semester, and then later post-evaluation(s), or in any combination desired by the instructor.
• To assess individual or ensemble area(s) of weakness in counting. Using the "Rhythm Vocabulary" listings from the "Rhythm Masters" series off the web site, specific levels can be pin-pointed as performance areas of below standard. Strategies can then be devised to target and improve these target areas, usually in short three to five minute instructional mods.
• To begin experimenting with a working assessment model. In the case where a State Departments of Education may require some "hard" form of evaluation assessment of our student musicians progress, it would definitely be in our programs best interest if some form of performance based assessment could be devised. The most time efficient and accurate format to use would be a "running record" tool, assessing a musicians accurate or inaccurate performance of measures, or portions there of.
• These tools can also be used with your full ensemble as rhythm reading instructional material. This is possible since each tool is melodically compatible with all wind instruments.

I have been working on the first drafts of the "Cumulative Rhythm Evaluation System to assess Comprehension" tools for several months now. I plan to put together 20 to 24 different tools in the third section of my next book in the "Rhythm Master" series. I first design each tool mathematically, trying to balance difficulty levels of the rhythm vocabulary used in each individual tool. Then, over the course of writing several tools, incorporate all possible rhythms up to a designated point in the Cumulative Rhythm Vocabulary List. At this time I have completed four "tools" and am putting the Tools #1 & 2 on my web site. This will allow any of my colleagues that wish, to download one or both of these tools, look them over or use them as an evaluation tool with your students, and then give me any feedback or suggestions you wish. I will continue working on the first two sections of Book IV, putting this section on hold until later this summer or early next fall, after I have received several music educators initial input.

The initial focus will be on the measurement of each students' present level of rhythmic comprehension. In other words, the extent of his or her "whole language rhythm vocabulary" and where on the rhythmic vocabulary list some kind "phonetic" or "analysis" system must kick in. In addition, all measures used in each tool are labeled by chapter on the master score sheet. This design is to aide music educators in targeting specific areas they may wish to incorporate additional class instruction. Each tool takes four to five minutes to play, if the entire tool is performed. Accommodations are made for students with a more limited rhythmic vocabulary, by stopping them in any counting area where full credit is lost for three consecutive measures. This will shorten the overall time necessary to complete the assessments in any given class.

I have taken the time to place on my web site the master score sheet with the rubrics used, and the transposition of tools #1 & 2 for all wind instruments in PDF format. In this way, you can use them as the assessment tool they were designed to be, or, as full ensemble instructional or review materials.. You can find Assessment Tools #1 & 2 and the master score sheet in the colored table section in the center of the "RM" web site. The "Rhythm Vocabulary" list is in the Book III area in one of the other colored tables.

Feel free to help yourself and download anything else on the web site that you feel might aide you or your students. All of the instructional materials in both books 1 & 2 are available for your use, in addition to several music and rhythmic games, and other misc. instructional aides. You can reach my web site or contact me any way you wish as listed below. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Downloadable PDFs

Note: Each tool is two pages in length, and utilizes the same master score sheet and rubrics.

Standard Notation