You constantly assess your students. But how are you doing? Self-assessment or evaluation from time to time is a good idea.

Respected author and MENC member Scott Rush has published two books, Habits of a Successful Band Director and The Evolution of a Successful Band Director. These publications offer a framework for directors to evaluate themselves and improve every aspect of their teaching.

To get started, Rush suggests writing out how you teach the following:

• Tone
• Timing
• Tuning
• Dynamics (do each individually)
• Phrasing
• Articulations (staccato, marcato, legato, slurred, various accents)
• Rhythm
• Balance
• Blend
• Attacks
• Releases
• Range (each requires some form of acting)
• Endurance
• Musicianship (beauty, shape, interpretation, emotion, style, mood)
• Technique
• Tone Color (intensity, color spectrum, sonority)
• Consistency /Accuracy (horn player mentality)

Okay, directors -- you have two weeks to complete the above. Part 2 of this article will examine specific questions you can use to determine how you're doing overall in the classroom.

Scott Rush is director of bands at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

Becky Spray, March 25, 2009 © MENC: The National Association for Music Education