Current Position
Brooke currently teaches at the Washtenaw International HS and International Middle Academy located in Ypsilanti, MI. He has held this position since 2011. Prior this position he worked at Sexton HS and Dwight Rich MS for Lansing Public Schools. He also held a position as Music Director at Grace Lutheran Church (Howell, MI) from 2007-2015).
Courses Taught:
Band, choir, strings, IB Music Product Team
Current course load:
8th grade band, Concert Winds (2nd of 3 HS bands), Wind Ensemble (top level of 2 HS bands), String Orchestra, IB Music 1, IB Music 2, Extended Essay Coordinator, Fine Arts Department Chair
Courses Taught:
Band, choir, strings, IB Music Product Team
Current course load:
8th grade band, Concert Winds (2nd of 3 HS bands), Wind Ensemble (top level of 2 HS bands), String Orchestra, IB Music 1, IB Music 2, Extended Essay Coordinator, Fine Arts Department Chair
Educational Materials
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Performance Mastery Assessment forms
These forms allow me to track student skill development over a multiple year period. Once a student masters a particular skill, the item is crossed off and there is no expectation that they need to retest on that scale. Students who do not pass on a scale might receive a lower score but can retest on the scale to show mastery. Tests are sent to my email using vocaroo.com or another approved method. [These forms are general - some instruments may not have the range to achieve the specific octaves of scales.] |
Music Creativity Project (spring project)
This project occurs in all performance classes throughout the music department each spring. Every student participates (except those enrolled in IB level music). Students propose and then develop their projects over the course of 4 months including multiple drafts and written reflection. Sample Rubric Sample Instructions Sample Written Reflection Forms |
Grading and Grading Categories
Course Setup:
20% Knowledge and Understanding - SBG
30% Responding - SBG
20% Thinking Creatively - SBG
30% Skill Acquisition (averaged score)
Standards Based Grading (score S0-S8)
Grading should reflect student skills and content knowledge (not behavior or materials). Not having materials has a natural consequence to learning and it is my belief that assessing on bringing materials or behavior is a double "punishment". Bringing materials and outstanding citizenship are requirements in my course and will be addressed through working with student, parents, and counseling (rather than extrinsic grading).
Final scoring on the semester is based on the growth of the of the student. A student, for example, who earned a grade of S2 (65%) in the first months of school but then receives scoring of S7 (95%) in a category by semester end will receive a score of S7 in the category total. This promotes and rewards student growth. The opposite may occur as well (i.e. a student starting at an S7 and ending at an S2 will end with an S2).
Skill based development (performance on their instrument) is the only averaged category. These are items like performing mastery/scale assessments. However, students do have opportunity to reassess within 2 weeks of the initial assessment.
Knowledge and Understand - these are items such as knowledge of the music, performance practices, knowledge of practice technique, music theory, etc.
Responding - these are reflection based items (practice reflections, post-concert reflections, etc.)
Thinking Creatively - these are composition and creative based items (spring project, compositions, arrangements, performance interpretation).
Skill Acquisition - these are performance based items (scale/mastery quizzes, etc.)
20% Knowledge and Understanding - SBG
30% Responding - SBG
20% Thinking Creatively - SBG
30% Skill Acquisition (averaged score)
Standards Based Grading (score S0-S8)
Grading should reflect student skills and content knowledge (not behavior or materials). Not having materials has a natural consequence to learning and it is my belief that assessing on bringing materials or behavior is a double "punishment". Bringing materials and outstanding citizenship are requirements in my course and will be addressed through working with student, parents, and counseling (rather than extrinsic grading).
Final scoring on the semester is based on the growth of the of the student. A student, for example, who earned a grade of S2 (65%) in the first months of school but then receives scoring of S7 (95%) in a category by semester end will receive a score of S7 in the category total. This promotes and rewards student growth. The opposite may occur as well (i.e. a student starting at an S7 and ending at an S2 will end with an S2).
Skill based development (performance on their instrument) is the only averaged category. These are items like performing mastery/scale assessments. However, students do have opportunity to reassess within 2 weeks of the initial assessment.
Knowledge and Understand - these are items such as knowledge of the music, performance practices, knowledge of practice technique, music theory, etc.
Responding - these are reflection based items (practice reflections, post-concert reflections, etc.)
Thinking Creatively - these are composition and creative based items (spring project, compositions, arrangements, performance interpretation).
Skill Acquisition - these are performance based items (scale/mastery quizzes, etc.)