Compare Bloom's Taxonomy with the Nine National Music Standards

Bloom’s Taxonomy includes the following characteristics: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Creating, and Evaluating.  These concepts are also incorporated into the National Standards for Music Education.  The first standard is singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. This standard requires both remembering (words, melody), and also an understanding of the music.  The second standard is performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Remembering, understanding, and applying are evident in this standard because students are able to take previously learned knowledge and apply that in knowledge in music.  Creating, which is a higher level thinking skill is expressed into the third standard of improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.  The higher level thinking skill of creating is again used for standard four in composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.  Standard five of reading and notating music incorporates an understanding and applying of what they know.  The sixth standard is listening to, analyzing, and describing music.  This standard applies to Bloom’s higher taxonomy level of Analyzing.  Evaluating music and music performances which is the seventh standard expresses higher level thinking of evaluating.  Standard eight is understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.  This standard incorporates the beginning stages of Bloom’s, but travels up to higher level thinking of evaluating.  Finally, the ninth standard of understanding music in relation to history and culture encompasses higher level thinking in analyzing and also understanding.  Most of these standards require a base to begin with as students are learning.  However, incorporating higher levels of thinking will continue to challenge students and elevate their level of knowledge.