Your son continues with his private lessons, though they are much longer and more intense these days. He takes some music theory classes at the local community college, and he starts attending summer music camps that are focused exclusively on his instrument. He begins composing his own music, and perhaps he even takes on a second instrument at this time. Soon he convinces several friends to join him in creating a chamber wind ensemble. By the time your son is a high school junior in your homeschool, he and his group are performing at community events and weddings, and they are recording their own CD.

Your son does not plan a full-time career in music. He actually wants to be an architect. However, he has followed one of his passions in a natural way, and he has benefited tremendously. He may teach private lessons in the future, he may continue to perform at special events on the weekends, and he may use his talents in Christian ministry someday. He will probably stay involved with various community bands and orchestras throughout his life, giving him both enjoyment and outreach, and he might just go on to compose some wonderful music of his own. One day he will pass on his skills and his love of music to his own children.

Notice, however, that your son did not need to take tests to “prove” that he was learning to play and love music. His constantly growing knowledge in this area was evident in many different ways. It was obvious to him, to you, and to everyone even remotely involved in his life—your son was learning music. The one time he had to take tests was when he enrolled in the college music theory program. This does not imply that the mastery of music theory can only be demonstrated through tests. It simply reiterates the point that tests were developed for group class environments. The teacher does not have time to discuss music theory with each student individually.

If you pause to think about it, you will realize that we approach the learning of many other subjects in this same holistic way. Not many people feel the need to verify progressing skills in needlework, baking, car repair, painting, carpentry, childcare, jewelry-making, or gardening through testing. Each of these areas requires a great deal of detailed knowledge and many hours of ongoing study and practice, but the proficiency gained and the excellence achieved are not shown through tests, but rather through a variety of independent, expressive, and practical means. In fact, our middle school and high school students can demonstrate their grasp of nearly any subject area without the need to resort to tests.

Instead of undergoing testing, students can display their growing knowledge and understanding through a variety of excellent natural methods. For example:

     •   Discussion

     •   Creative writing