This article discusses formative assessment--classroom strategies that ensure students are understanding music concepts. Unlike summative assessments (end-of-process evaluations like final exams, SATs, or auditions), formative assessments need to be non-threatening, helpful, and most of all, effective. The process starts with a teacher understanding what is supposed to be taught, breaking it down into incremental goals, making students understand those goals, and then accomplishing them. It sounds a lot like plain old teaching, but the emphasis has shifted to measurable methods--not just at the end of the process, but along the way as well. And what's at stake includes not only student success, but the livelihood of the music educators themselves. (Contains 4 online resources.)