The teVelde Learning Style Assessment Test

Testing Parameters

The teVelde School Of Music offers Individualized Music Lessons, custom tailored to each student's personal learning style and strengths. This is accomplished by conducting an initial testing session that consists of a series of in depth questions that help to discern how each student will best learn. Developed over the course of over 10 years, and fine tuned by Bonnie teVelde after administering over 800+ tests, this testing session is an imperative first step in the course of lasting lessons.

Below, there are informational descriptions delineating who should take the test. We also explain why we do it. We also explain when the Right Time is to take it. The test focuses on the following areas:

1. Student's Core Learning Style/Personality - Outgoing (Love of Music Performance); or Self-Contained (Love of Music for Personal Enjoyment/Recording)

2. Information Student Naturally Notices and how their Brain Processes that Information: Sensory: (Detailed, Step by Step, Finisher); or Intuitive: (Big Picture, Creative, Starter)

3. Basis for Student's Motivation: Tangible Rewards or Appreciation

4. Best Practice Strategy for Each Student... Scheduled vs. Spontaneous

5. Student's Sensory or Intuitive Learning Styles: Audio, Visual, Kinetic, etc.

6. Student's Relevant Past Experiences: Music, Dance, Band, Chorus, Theater, Gymnastics

7. Student's Individual Goals-Long & Short Range: Personal and/or Professional Aspirations

8. Family Dynamics: How to Provide the Best Support for each Individual Student

The Test Results

The results of the testing give me the students natural "aptitudes", in rhythm, melody & harmony recognition & retention, pitch descrimination & identification, and other auxilliary abilities that can be used to convey musical training. I also discover which one of 16 personality types (Briggs-Meyers), the student and their significant/supporting family members are. This information, combined with each student's age, and corresponding maturity in their learning style & personality development, are used to help the student create workable, five-year goals that they are personally committed to. The personal commitment to five year goals, that are written, helps the student make it through the five (5) initial years of study, while I, as the teacher, do everything in my power to work with the student's own learning style and natural processes to encourage the mental "shift" of the skills from the "left" brain to the "right" brain. The more quickly this process happens, the faster a student will play music fluently and comfortably.

Making Learning Easier for Adults and Children

Using primarily the right brain to play more complex music also makes it possible for adults to get the fluency that they strive for when they start lessons later in life. The whole key to enjoying the music that is being played is to get, and keep playing, while processing the music in the right side of the brain, If one is left-handed, or vice-versa if one is left-handed. When it comes to fluency in playing material once it is learned, that will be the key for older learners. It is much more difficult for an adult to get back into the "right brained", "intuitive" side of the brain when playing because it requires very little conscious thought.

The Testing Process

The testing process usually takes an hour and a half, and there is no way to get a "wrong" answer on the questions. This test simply defines learning styles and preferences, which are unique to each student, so that we can modify our teaching styles to make the learning process comfortable and effective. For children and teens, it is helpful for a parent or parents to be present as well. Results are modified based on the student's age, and aptitudes as well as personality types can be determined from age 5 on up.

Testing and understanding how each student best learns allows students to enjoy lessons more, stay in them longer, and have fun while studying. The testing process takes 90 minutes, so students should have a good meal and plenty of rest before coming in to take it.

Who Should Take the Test?

Do You or Does Your Child:

1. Love to listen to music?

2. Listen to favorite songs over and over?

3. Notice types of sounds in music?

4. Wish you could be the one singing or playing?

5. Continually sing and hum, get songs "stuck" in your head?

6. Constantly tap fingers or feet on surfaces?

7. Seem to be Distracted by Any Source of Sound in the Room?

8. Figure out tunes you hear on the radio "by ear"?

9. Become overly stimulated, irritated, or exhausted by loud, pounding, or discordant noises in the immediate environment?

Note: If you demonstrate three (3) or more of these characteristics, you need to be tested to identify your musical aptitudes.

Is this the Right Time for You? Have You:

1. Been singing and/or wanting to play more lately?

2. Had lessons as a child, and recently started wishing you hadn't quit?

3. Wanted to help your children play, but you've gone as far as you can?

4. Thought about taking combined lessons with your child?

5. Had some memory problems and want to get back your mental acuity?

Over the last three (3) years, having done the testing for 8-10 years, I now continually have a waiting list of new students. I feel this is because I no longer lose students at the rate that most teachers do. Most teachers consider it acceptable to lose between 50-75% of their new students in the first year. I lose less than 20%, and those are due to college entrance, relocation to other areas, not lack of interest in lessons. I have become absolutely passionate about the testing, because it is the key to keeping all students interested in music.

I have been using the testing model on ADD & ADHD students, and the results are even more dramatic. Of those that are attracted to music, they are proportionately even more "audio" learners. They are that much more successful in an environment that is custom-tailored for their exact learning styles. I have never seen more intensely successful learners than ADD or ADHD students that are taught one-on-one, exactly how they learn.

I am currently compiling my data on the successfulness of the learning style testing I have developed, and am in the process of writing a teaching method for music teachers of all instruments and ages. I have worked with children as young as 10 months old, and as old as 80 years old. I have worked with those that are "mildly retarded" to those who are considered "genius" IQ's.

I have Studied Autism extensively, and worked one-on-one with several Autistic children with many levels of disability. I have received training and CPE units in working with students with Asperger Syndrome.

I have also worked with many students who have Bi-polar Disorder and/or OCD. I find it both challenging and rewarding to find solutions and musical rewards for each student, according to their needs.

Personality Types and Learning Styles

Here are some links to a book by Paul and Barbara Barron-Tieger that deal with the Personality Types and Applications that I have found to be so helpful in teaching. I would highly recommend both "Do What You Are", for All Ages Looking for What they were Meant to Do in this Life, and "Nurture by Nature", for Parents. These books also define all of the Personality Types, Primary & Auxiliary Functions, and Ages of Onset for each trait of the Type. These books give critical information not only on helping children of different types in school, which they are absolutely critical for, but on interacting with yourself or anyone you love in a supportive and effective way. They give you tools for teaching, working with, relating to, and motivating the people around you that you care about the most.

I often wish that I had these books, and this knowledge when I was raising my children. They were both so different, and I would have had the tools to work with them, each in their own way, effectively. I HIGHLY recommend that you read these books, whether you are a Business Owner, a Future Musician, an Aspiring Employee, a Parent, or in a Relationship with someone. The chances of you being able to effectively communicate and work with others will increase dramatically as you understand and recognize these types more and more.