Q. When you test kids individually, what do you have the rest of the kids do in the meantime?

A. I do the testing during a music class. The system is that if you are ready, you stand against the wall by my desk (behind me). You are not allowed to play at that point. At my desk, I have a music stand with the appropriate testing materials on it. The first in line tests, gets the score and comments, gets their bead (if they pass), and goes outside the room and moves their "recorder" (construction paper on a huge chart - they move their personal play recorder as they pass from belt area to belt area - see the Photos section of the Recorder Dojo). If they don't pass, they go back into the front of the room and practice quietly. They may try again, if time permits. Those that are not ready, use the front half of the room and practice quietly by themselves with the overhead to look at. I encourage them to play for a partner. When they feel ready, they get into line and wait their turn, without playing their recorder.

This has really worked well for me. I also have to say that I have a really large music room, or it would probably drive me crazy. Oh yes, our average class size is around 22. Thank goodness.