The aim of this study, via the Word Association Test, an alternative assessment and evaluation technique, to reveal the cognitive structures by determining high school students' perceptions about music genres. For this purpose, in the spring semester of 2015-2016 academic year, Data in the study is obtained with the participation of 100 students in 11th and 12th. Independent word association test was used to collect data. In order to create the test, music genres, namely, Turkish Folk Music, Turkish Art Music, Pop Music and Classical Western Music, were chosen as key concepts. The data were evaluated according to the content analysis; frequency values were given and divided into categories. In line with the findings of the research, the categories of 'cultural' related to the concept of Turkish Folk Music, 'instrument' about Turkish Art Music, 'rhythmic' about Pop Music, and 'instrument' related to Classical Western Music, answer words were produced.