Developing Tests of Music Performance Improvisation

Abstract

This chapter presents a survey of research on the development and validation of a measure to assess instrumentalists’ ability to improvise music. It begins by framing efforts to distinguish between visual, aural, and creative forms of music performance, and the types of assessment tasks required to evaluate music performance improvisation. The chapter surveys a range of related measures that have been used to assess improvisational abilities in young developing musicians and provides a detailed description of the author’s own Test of Ability to Improvise (TAI) that he has used with beginning, intermediate, and advanced level school instrumentalists. Included also are examples of the instrumentalists’ improvisations and a discussion of the implications of the research findings for conceptions of musical development and practical applications within music education.

Enhancing the Interest of Colleges of Education Students in Ghana in Music Theory: Strategies and Recommendation

“…A study by Anderman and Maehr (2014) found that students who had positive experiences with music, such as participating in choirs or playing instruments, showed a higher level of interest in music theory. Prior exposure to music performance and active engagement in making music create a foundation for students to appreciate and understand music theory concepts (McPherson & Welch, 2018). Effective teaching methods play a crucial role in nurturing student interest in music theory.…”