Over 30 lessons grouped in five topics: Dance Music, Minimalism, Latin Music, Romantic Music and Gospel, Blues, and Soul.
Plenty of performing, composing and listening activities for the whole class, and full lesson plans and assessment sheets for the teacher.
Lesson 1 in Rock ‘n’ Roll
KS3 Scheme of Work – 6 lessons (or standalone lesson)
Objectives of scheme
• To learn about the origins of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s
• To sing and play several rock ‘n’ roll and rock songs
• To recognise some typical instruments – keyboard, drums and double bass – and their functions
• To play the chords of C, F, G and Am on the keyboard
• To perform the 12-bar blues and I-vi-IV-V chord progressions on the keyboard
• To arrange a rock ‘n’ roll song for a group performance
Lesson Overview
1. The Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll
2. The 12-Bar Blues
3. The Bass Line
4. The I-vi-IV-V Progression
5. Preparing Group Arrangement
6. Group Performances and Listening Exercise
Subject-specific vocabulary
• Performers: Bill Haley and the Comets, Elvis Presley
• Instruments: double bass, drum kit, keyboard
• Chords: C, F, G, Am
• 12-bar blues and I-vi-IV-V chord progressions
Assessments
• Performing (keyboard) – 12-bar blues
• Composing – group arrangement of a Rock ‘n’ Roll song
• Listening – Hound Dog
This topic can be followed up with the topic on The Beatles, which introduces more secondary triads and more complex song structures, reflecting the development of rock music in the 1960s.
African Music
KS3 scheme of work
N.B. This is designed as a modular scheme of work with self-contained lessons linked by recurring themes. It works well in a short half of term and/or one interrupted by trips, exams, etc. Lessons 3 and 4 work best when taught consecutively.
Objectives
• Performing: to sing traditional African songs and to play African percussion
• Composing: to create a layered, syncopated rhythmic ostinato within a group performance
• Listening: to learn about, and to recognise, African musical styles and instruments
Lesson overview
• Lesson 1: Wimmoweh
• Lesson 2: African instruments
• Lesson 3: African rhythms
• Lesson 4: Group composition
• Lesson 5: Singing African Songs
• Lesson 6: Listening to African Music
• Research assignment (cover lesson/homework – no listening required)
Vocabulary
• African instruments:
o CABASA large gourd with a handle covered with a network of stringed beads
o KORA a harp with 21 strings, resounding in half a large gourd, covered with skin
o TALKING DRUM A drum with two heads which are kept taut by strings
o MARIMBA A set of wooden bars arranged in a row over a set of resonating gourds
o DJEMBE A large single-headed drum
o THUMB-PIANO A wooden board with thin metal strips attached to it
• Polyrhythm and cross rhythm
• Call-and-response
• Ostinato
• Layering
• A capella
• Close and parallel harmony
Assessment
• Performing: singing an African song (Lesson 5)
• Composing: creating a rhythmic ostinato as part of a group composition/performance (Lessons 3 and 4)
• Listening: ‘Listening to African Music’ (Lesson 6)
Scheme of Work (6-8 lessons)
Objectives
• To learn about different genres, composers, instruments and musical forms from the Classical Era (1750-1820),
• To apply this knowledge when listening to an unfamiliar piece
• To sing both a song and an opera aria from the Classical Era
• To understand how both accompanying patterns and melodies can be created from notes in the underlying chords (using the major triads G, D, A, C and F)
• As a result, to be able to play both an accompanying (‘oom-cha’) pattern and a melody (for a minuet) on the keyboard
• To compose one or two 8-bar section(s) of music, using chords and melody, which can be used as another section of a minuet in either ternary or Rondo form
Lesson Overview
• Lesson 1: Schubert’s ‘The Trout’ and Strophic Form
• Lesson 2: Gluck’s ‘What is life’ and Rondo form
• Lesson 3: Consolidation of Classical Vocal music
• Lesson 4: Haydn’s ‘Emperor Quartet’ and Variation form
• Lesson 5: Mozart’s Minuet and Ternary Form
• Lesson 6: Consolidation of musical forms
• Lesson 7: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Sonata Form*
• Lesson 8: Conclusion*
* Optional lessons which may be omitted for a six-lesson scheme of work
Subject-specific vocabulary
• Composers: Schubert, Gluck, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven
• Genres: song, opera, aria, symphony, minuet
• Voices, instruments and their groupings: soprano, alto, piano, string quartet, orchestra
• Forms: strophic, rondo, ternary, theme and variations, sonata form
Assessments
• Performing (singing) – Schubert’s ‘The Trout’ or Gluck’s ‘What is life’
• Performing (keyboard) – adaptations of accompaniment to ‘The Trout’ or Mozart’s Minuet
• Composing – additional 8-bar section(s) for Mozart’s Minuet
• Listening – exercise on unfamiliar piece in last lesson
KS3 Scheme of Work – (6-8 lessons)
Objectives
• To learn about the evolution of African-American styles in the 1950s and 1960s
• To listen to examples of spirituals, gospel, rhythm and blues, and soul
• To consolidate previous knowledge of major and minor chords
• To learn how to play seventh chords
• To sing songs from these styles, both in class and individually
• To arrange and perform these styles as a group
Lesson Overview
1. Two Spirituals
2. Gospel Music
3. Rhythm ‘n’ Blues
4. The Birth of Soul
5. Respect
6. Stand By Me
7. Group arrangement*
8. Group performance*
* The group arrangement/performance forms an optional extension task
Subject-specific vocabulary
• Primary triads – I, IV, V
• Triads – C, F, G, Am, D, E
• Seventh chords
• Call-and-response
• Ornamentation
• Improvisation
Assessments
• Performing – chord sequences for various songs on keyboard (Lessons 1, 5, 6)
• Listening – ‘The Birth of Soul’ (Lesson 4)
• Composing (arranging) – chosen song in a small ensemble (Lessons 7-8)
Seven Beatles songs analysed, including the four songs from ‘Revolver’ which are Edexcel A level set works:
Eleanor Rigby
Here, There and Everywhere
I Want to Tell You
Tomorrow Never Knows
Love Me Do
A Hard Day’s Night
A Day in the Life
Suitable for A level and GCSE listening. Includes a scheme of work on the Beatles for younger pupils.
Analysis (divided into elements of music) of the following songs:
‘Eleanor Rigby’
‘Here, There and Everywhere’
‘I Want to Tell You’
‘Tomorrow Never Knows’
These are set works for the current Edexcel Pearson A level music course, but they are equally suitable as wider listening for GCSE/A level.
Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) wrote the words and music for “Into the Woods” a musical which is based on several fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and others: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding Hood.
This resource discusses Sondheim’s musical style, gives an overview of “Into the Woods”, and analyses three musical numbers in detail:
Prologue
Agony
Our Little World
This resource was designed for teaching the AQA Music A Level syllabus (Area of Study 4 - Music for Theatre), but it can be used for any 14+ musical theatre lessons in either music or drama lessons.
Lessons 2+3 of Rock ‘n’ Roll
KS3 Scheme of Work – 6 lessons (or a standalone double lesson)
Objectives
• To learn about the origins of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s
• To sing and play several rock ‘n’ roll and rock songs
• To recognise some typical instruments – keyboard, drums and double bass – and their functions
• To play the chords of C, F, G and Am on the keyboard
• To perform the 12-bar blues and I-vi-IV-V chord progressions on the keyboard
• To arrange a rock ‘n’ roll song for a group performance
Lesson Overview
1. The Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll
2. The 12-Bar Blues
3. The Bass Line
4. The I-vi-IV-V Progression
5. Preparing Group Arrangement
6. Group Performances and Listening Exercise
Subject-specific vocabulary
• Performers: Bill Haley and the Comets, Elvis Presley
• Instruments: double bass, drum kit, keyboard
• Chords: C, F, G, Am
• 12-bar blues and I-vi-IV-V chord progressions
Assessments
• Performing (keyboard) – 12-bar blues
• Composing – group arrangement of a Rock ‘n’ Roll song
• Listening – Hound Dog
This topic can be followed up with the topic on The Beatles, which introduces more secondary triads and more complex song structures, reflecting the development of rock music in the 1960s.
Lesson 1 of African Music KS3 scheme of work (or standalone lesson)
N.B. This is designed as a modular scheme of work with self-contained lessons linked by recurring themes. It works well in a short half of term and/or one interrupted by trips, exams, etc. Lessons 3 and 4 work best when taught consecutively.
Objectives
• Performing: to sing traditional African songs and to play African percussion
• Composing: to create a layered, syncopated rhythmic ostinato within a group performance
• Listening: to learn about, and to recognise, African musical styles and instruments
Lesson overview
• Lesson 1: Wimmoweh
• Lesson 2: African instruments
• Lesson 3: African rhythms
• Lesson 4: Group composition
• Lesson 5: Singing African Songs
• Lesson 6: Listening to African Music
• Research assignment (cover lesson/homework – no listening required)
Vocabulary
• African instruments:
o CABASA large gourd with a handle covered with a network of stringed beads
o KORA a harp with 21 strings, resounding in half a large gourd, covered with skin
o TALKING DRUM A drum with two heads which are kept taut by strings
o MARIMBA A set of wooden bars arranged in a row over a set of resonating gourds
o DJEMBE A large single-headed drum
o THUMB-PIANO A wooden board with thin metal strips attached to it
• Polyrhythm and cross rhythm
• Call-and-response
• Ostinato
• Layering
• A capella
• Close and parallel harmony
Assessment
• Performing: singing an African song (Lesson 5)
• Composing: creating a rhythmic ostinato as part of a group composition/performance (Lessons 3 and 4)
• Listening: ‘Listening to African Music’ (Lesson 6)
A complete carol from '50 Christmas Carols', edited by Chris Gill. Arranged for four parts (SATB) on two staves, with chord symbols above, and lyrics for all of the verses printed in between the staves. The complete edition of '50 Christmas Carols' is available as a pdf and Sibelius file from TES resources, or as a paperback from Amazon.
A complete carol from '50 Christmas Carols', edited by Chris Gill. Arranged for four parts (SATB) on two staves, with chord symbols above, and lyrics for all of the verses printed in between the staves. The complete edition of '50 Christmas Carols' is available as a pdf and Sibelius file from TES resources, or as a paperback from Amazon.
A complete carol from '50 Christmas Carols', edited by Chris Gill. Arranged for four parts (SATB) on two staves, with chord symbols above, and lyrics for all of the verses printed in between the staves. The complete edition of '50 Christmas Carols' is available as a pdf and Sibelius file from TES resources, or as a paperback from Amazon.
A complete carol from '50 Christmas Carols', edited by Chris Gill. Arranged for four parts (SATB) on two staves, with chord symbols above, and lyrics for all of the verses printed in between the staves. The complete edition of '50 Christmas Carols' is available as a pdf and Sibelius file from TES resources, or as a paperback from Amazon.
16 pages of notes of this Edexcel A Level Music set work. All eight cues are analysed according to the Elements of Music. Includes a one-page introduction to the film and its music, and an 4-page overview of the other cues in the film, to put the set work into context.
A complete carol from '50 Christmas Carols', edited by Chris Gill. Arranged for four parts (SATB) on two staves, with chord symbols above, and lyrics for all of the verses printed in between the staves. The complete edition of '50 Christmas Carols' is available as a pdf and Sibelius file from TES resources, or as a paperback from Amazon.
A complete carol from '50 Christmas Carols', edited by Chris Gill.
Arranged for four parts (SATB) on two staves, with chord symbols above, and lyrics for all of the verses printed in between the staves.
The complete edition of '50 Christmas Carols' is available as a pdf and Sibelius file from TES resources, or as a paperback from Amazon.