Effective and Engaged Followership: Assessing Student Participation in Ensembles

Music educators consider participation to be an important part of learning in their classrooms. And as the era of accountability rages on throughout the field of education, many educators have sought ways to describe the deep engagement that occurs in rehearsals. This article considers the role that the concept of “followership” can play in helping educators explain what engaged participation looks like in ensemble learning. The article also outlines potential implications this concept holds for learning, teaching, assessment, and how we account for participation in our classrooms. Potential academic outcomes for engaged followership include more engaged learners, heightened musical experiences, and strong critical thinking in rehearsals.