Northview Hawks Orchestra

Welcome to Our Wiki 2011-12

Congratulations Northview Camerata on earning a superior at Music Performance Assessment Festival.  I am very proud of you and we'll read all the comments tomorrow in class.

 Why do we put so much emphasis on Music Performance Assessment?

MPA is a opportunity to have our learning tested in "real time" through performance and sight reading.  We perform our program for a panel of three judges who are noted educators from middle, high school and sometimes college level who assess our program.  They use a rubric which is nationally recognized and was designed by the National Association for Music Education.

Orchestras are given a final score of I-V with I being "Superior", II being Excellent etc.   We are also give specific and general comments about our playing, technique etc.  Additionally, we also sight read.  Sight reading is a one time through performance of easier music which we've never seen.  It's usually composed specifically for this event and has particular challenges rhythmically or formally for students to catch.  We have three minutes to look through the piece, work on the rhythms, check out repeats etc.  Then we play it.  Directors are not allowed to count out-loud, answer any "how does it go?" type questions, or sing any parts of the music.  Sight reading assesses our musicianship.  This is only the second year of sight reading. MPA is kind of a big deal for us but it's also a great goal and a terrific way to focus our attention and learning.   And functionally, in the Age of Accountability, it serves as our EOC test-without benefit of retest.