Thibeault, M. (2010). General music as a cure for the high-stakes concert.

General
Music Today (Online), 04/ 23 (3)
Matthew Thibeault argues that a good concert as a year-end goal may
be a source of problems. There is the common sense that when an
audience listens to a good concert, they develop a judgment that the
school has a good music education program, or vise versa. Thibeault
presents three similarities between concerts and high-stake tests
The first similarity is that teachers only teach to the test and it narrows
curricular goals. Tests can limit what is being taught, and it leaves out
much of what is valuable and only has trivial questions because
those are the easiest to measure out knowledge. Our grades in high
school, and all of education, are greatly determined by these tests.
looking back, I forget everything I studied for. Thats because I only
crammed the night before, did well on the day of the test, and forgot
everything the hour later. Its similar to concert preparation because
conductors will focus more of memorization rather than the actual
meaning in the text.
The second similarity is that students are evaluated by a single source
of evidence. He also points out that his students were judged by the
community based on how they sounded at a single event, a concert.
For those who are invisible students, this might have a negative
impact; they could have a bad experience at the concert. It would
make them look bad when really they are not bad at all. In high
school we had a choir concert and a student made a mistake, perhaps
he was very nervous. When talking to some of the audiences about the
concert overall, some remembered the student as the guy that
messed up. They placed a label on him and used it as his identity. Its
true when Thibeault says that they are being judged on a single event.
Students dont have a say in what songs to sing in concerts. I am
currently in a choir and we are preparing for a concert. I actually dislike
all the repertoire that we have to sing, therefore Im not motivated to
sing and I dont look forward to rehearsals because I cant stand the
songs. I am only looking forward to concert so that I never have to sing
those songs again. Thibeault believes that there should be more
communication, like a democracy. Choir dictatorship isnt fun and I
agree with Thibeault. There should be more student voice and choice.
After all, its us that are singing and performing, not the conductor.
One of the solutions he gives is to actually learn about the work and
not just focus on memorization. If we have an understanding of a

piece, we will love it more because that way we can experience it for
ourselves.