NBPTS AYA Music study plan
NBPTS AYA Music · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Musical Knowledge and Skills (performance, ear, theory, and history)
Audit personal strengths and gaps across the four Domain 1 strands (performance, ear training, theory, history) by self-scoring a written inventory of at least 40 specific competencies
Diagnose harmonic dictation accuracy by transcribing 12 short four-part progressions and categorizing every error as chord quality, inversion, or function
Map the tonal harmony sequence (secondary dominants, modal mixture, Neapolitan, augmented sixth chords) onto a one-page reference sheet written from memory then corrected against a textbook
Sight-sing 10 melodies in treble, bass, alto, and tenor clefs at 60 bpm with 90 percent pitch accuracy, logging each attempt
Your checkpoint
A dated Domain 1 gap analysis spreadsheet listing each competency, a 1-5 self-rating, and a specific remediation action for every item rated 3 or below
Musical Knowledge and Skills (performance, ear, theory, and history)
Analyze eight works spanning Medieval through Contemporary eras, writing for each the form, harmonic language, texture, and two likely rehearsal challenges
Compare three recordings of the same canonical work and articulate how tempo, articulation, and balance choices reflect differing interpretive traditions
Transcribe by ear a 16-bar jazz or popular excerpt including bass line, chord symbols, and melodic rhythm
Construct a 20-item listening identification set pairing each excerpt with the stylistic markers that justify the answer
Your checkpoint
A 1,500-word annotated listening guide covering eight works, each with form diagram, stylistic markers, and a sample assessment question
Musical Knowledge and Skills (performance, ear, theory, and history) & Instructional Strategies and Rehearsal/Classroom Techniques
Rehearse a 12-minute segment of a real or simulated ensemble piece using a written rehearsal plan that sequences warm-up, diagnostic run, targeted repetition, and full run
Demonstrate three conducting patterns (2, 3, 4) plus one asymmetric meter with clear preparatory beats, recorded for self-review
Design a warm-up sequence that simultaneously addresses tone, intonation, and a technical passage from the rehearsal literature
Identify and script corrections for five common ensemble faults (rushed entrances, flat upper register, unbalanced inner voices, unclear diction, inconsistent articulation)
Your checkpoint
A 12-minute self-recorded rehearsal video plus a written rehearsal plan annotated with what changed and why during delivery
Instructional Strategies and Rehearsal/Classroom Techniques & Planning and Designing Instruction for Music Learning
Draft a 6-week unit plan for one ensemble or general music course that sequences enduring understandings, repertoire, and skill benchmarks backward from a summative performance task
Write three lesson plans that each state a measurable objective, aligned activity sequence, and evidence of learning collected during the lesson
Differentiate one rehearsal plan for three learner profiles (beginner, advanced, student with an IEP accommodation) without lowering the ensemble standard
Select repertoire for the unit and justify each selection against range demands, cultural representation, and pedagogical purpose
Your checkpoint
A complete 6-week unit plan with three fully developed lesson plans, a repertoire rationale table, and a differentiation matrix
Assessment and Analysis of Student Learning in Music
Build a 4-point analytic rubric for individual performance assessment with descriptors for tone, intonation, rhythm, technique, and musicality
Design three assessment types (performance, written, portfolio) that each map to a stated standard and produce usable evidence
Practice scoring two recorded student performances against your rubric, then compare your scores to a second listener's to check inter-rater reliability
Draft a feedback protocol that converts rubric scores into two specific, actionable student next steps
Your checkpoint
A field-tested assessment packet containing the rubric, three aligned assessment tasks, and a reliability check memo comparing your scores with a colleague's
Assessment and Analysis of Student Learning in Music & Learning Environment and Student Engagement in Music
Analyze a set of hypothetical student assessment data to identify two patterns of error and prescribe an instructional response for each
Design a first-three-weeks classroom management and routine plan covering setup, transitions, instrument handling, and rehearsal etiquette
Plan three engagement strategies (student-led sectional, peer coaching, choice repertoire) and predict their effect on specific learners
Write a 200-word statement of how your rehearsal environment supports risk-taking and belonging
Your checkpoint
A data-analysis memo with two error patterns and instructional responses, plus a one-page classroom environment plan
Reflective Practice and Professional Growth & Collaboration, Advocacy, and Community in Music Education
Write three structured reflections (each 400 words) using a describe-analyze-evaluate-plan cycle on your own Week 3 rehearsal video
Conduct an informational interview with a music educator or colleague and summarize two practices you will adopt
Draft a parent and community communication plan including a concert invitation, a program note, and one advocacy message about the program's value
Identify two professional development resources (journal, conference, mentorship) and schedule a concrete next step for each
Your checkpoint
A reflective practice portfolio containing three cycle-based reflections, an interview summary, and a drafted advocacy communication set
Planning and Designing Instruction for Music Learning & Reflective Practice and Professional Growth & Collaboration, Advocacy, and Community in Music Education
Synthesize all prior deliverables into a coherent portfolio organized against the seven domains
Complete two timed practice essay responses (30 minutes each) analyzing instructional decisions using evidence from your own artifacts
Revise the weakest two portfolio artifacts based on a written self-critique against the rubric criteria
Build a final two-week maintenance schedule that sustains ear training, analysis, and rehearsal planning through the exam date
Your checkpoint
A complete domain-organized portfolio with a self-critique memo and a written maintenance schedule for the final stretch
Milestones
Week 2: Domain 1 gap analysis fully remediated or scheduled, and the eight-work listening guide is complete with form diagrams and assessment questions
Week 4: Unit plan, three lesson plans, and the differentiation matrix are finished and reviewed by a colleague or mentor for alignment between objectives, activities, and evidence
Week 6: Assessment packet field-tested with at least one other listener, and the classroom environment plan is written and rehearsed aloud
Week 8: Portfolio assembled across all seven domains, two timed essays completed, and the maintenance schedule committed to a calendar