The status of arts assessment: examples from music.

Here is a puzzle: Everyone approves of assessment, at least on some occasions and of most types. Yet, the word "test sets off a tocsin that rings with a negative sound. I don't know how to solve this puzzle so I've taken the Defense Department approach: Rather than solving the problem, I'll simply attack it. Assessment of products as conducted independently by Consumer Reports or of pharmaceuticals by the FDA is widely approved. We accept licensing through written and performance tests for physicians, drivers, accountants, and more. Personality tests are generally accepted as ...