I found an incredibly apt article by Estelle Jorgensen in the British Journal of Music Education that addresses the issue of musicianship in music education, which provided a solid foundation from which to develop the DIY musicianship self-assessment tool idea. There are a few salient points that I think should be reflected in the way we model the concept of musicianship, and the design outcomes that should be established:

1. There is no ‘right way’ to learn music. The process is one of trying out different things, and finding one that you have an affinity for.
2. Overemphasis on the western tradition and the enlightement concept of scientific understanding of music in the form of analysis does not accurate or aptly capture broadly what music-making or music-appreciation consists of.
3. The collaborative and communal nature of music (in its making, sharing, teaching, etc.) is an important factor to consider when grappling with how this tool may be used.

To be continued…