GCSE Music revision guide covering all elements of music. Explore the musical definitions of key terms, before applying them into exam style questions. Suitable for any exam board, however written with Eduqas in mind.
This resource is any music students’ perfect companion. Exam technique is half the battle when it comes to sitting a GCSE in music, so whether the students need to revise for mock exams or the real deal in Year 11, this revision guide will help solidify elements of music knowledge and secure understanding of how to apply key terms to exam scenarios.
It is especially valuable to students that may require additional intervention, as the guide takes things back to basics before increasing the difficulty. Set it as homework, hand it out at parents evenings, use it in intervention/catch-up sessions or even use it to complement initial elements lessons at the start of the course. The guide is so versatile and a must for GCSE exam success!
Please note: This resource requires YouTube access for listening questions. Simply search the title indicated by the question to access the appropriate audio
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GCSE MUSIC – KEY MUSICAL ELEMENTS
This 36-page PPT is a great way to kick off the GCSE course, providing an accessible introduction to (or refresher of!) key musical elements:
Pulse
Metre (including regular and irregular)
Rhythm (including syncopation, off-beat rhythms, dotted rhythms and triplets)
Chords (including triads and inversions)
Melody-writing
Basic arranging for ensemble
It is expected that most students will have encountered many of these at Key Stage 3, and so whilst this PPT can act as an introduction with clear explanations, it can also act as a useful refresher, with the exercises very much aimed at Key Stage 4.
Students will need access to keyboard or guitars, and notation software or manuscript paper.
Update (19.09.24): I have added answers to the PPT, so that it could be used by a non-specialist teacher, or even set as cover / homework.
Please have a look at my other GCSE Music resources.
Thank you!
Do you need a basic Music Theory course that is not babyish? Are you looking for a theory course which will teach or revise the basics in an engaging but age-appropriate way? THIS is why I created this course!
Full curriculum of 6 units now available - workbooks, slideshows and quizzes!
This is Book 1 in the series of 6. The workbook introduces the basics of music theory, which you might want to use as revision for your classes, or to start from the beginning with older learners with no prior music experience. Topics included in Book 1 are:
The Treble Clef
Treble Stave Notes
Practising Treble Stave Notes
Note Values
Rest Values
Dotted Notes
Stems and Tails
Ascending, Descending, Step and Leap
Leger Lines
Bars and Bar Lines
The workbook also contains space for students to make notes, and a self-reflection task for them to evaluate their progress. 2 versions of the booklet are included, one with USA terms (staff, whole note, measure etc) and one with UK terms (stave, semibreve, bar etc). See the product preview for more detail.
The printable workbook is in PDF format and is 14 pages long. There is one page for each of the ten topics, each with clear explanations and two written tasks for pupils. This booklet is versatile and can be used in class, as homework, with whole classes or even by individual piano teachers or instrumental teachers on a one-to-one basis. It is designed to be worked through in order, spending a little time each lesson on theory, over 10 weeks in total.
I have used this booklet for years with my own students, usually from age 8-12, but the clear layout makes it suitable for any age. I have also used it with adult beginner piano pupils, who did not want to work from materials aimed at children. Please let me know how you use it!
Stunning Value! A bumper pack of 14 worksheets (or funsheets) for useful coverwork, homework or revision suitable for KS3 (yrs 7-9), or for checking basic knowledge at the start of a GCSE music course, for those with less musical background.
What Does It Do?
This resource tests the basics in an informal way and extends and explores knowledge of each of the elements, giving opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in creative ways - great preparation for a variety of composing, performing or listening tasks. ALTERNATIVELY, use this resource with the associated set of Elements Of Music Factsheets to create a totally self-supporting set of 14/28 activities, where no prior knowledge is needed to complete each task (great for cover work where no specialist teacher is available).
What's In It?
2 worksheets on each of the Elements - pitch, tempo, timbre, duration, dynamics and texture, plus 2 bonus sheets on The Elements. 14 worksheets in all, as well as teacher notes and suggestions for use. Each worksheet ends with a more open-ended task which ensures that coverwork does not run out before the end of the lesson, but these tasks could also be set as a separate homework task - giving 28 short but meaningful KS3 homework tasks in total - enough for a whole academic year!
29 pages of essential need to know basics of music theory for GCSE. Including worksheets on scales, chords, key signatures, and pages to practice melodic or rhythmic dictation. You tube links included.
This series of nine posters about the Elements of Music is based around the popular acronym DR SMITH. The posters can be used around your department or classroom and are designed to help embed GCSE and A Level tier musical language throughout the wider school. The posters are suitable for display in either Secondary or Primary schools. These could also be used as knowledge organizers or reference sheets for Key Stage 3 and GCSE courses.
DR SMITH stands for Dynamics, Rhythm, Structure, Melody (and Metre), Instrumentation, Texture (and Tonality, Timbre and Tempo) and Harmony. Other variations on the acronym have been used but I find these to cover the most important aspects of musical knowledge in the simplest way.
Each poster is colour-coded to fit with the acronym DR SMITH. This same colour scheme can be used further up the school in GCSE and A Level analysis.
Two great ‘Back to Basics’ resources to practice and reinforce the fundamental skills of the theory of music. Great for starters, plenaries and homework activities
Double sided worksheet and teacher slides for a music cover lesson on film music. Suitable for both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
The lesson includes six short activities: a starter, listening task, composition task (without instruments), a film technique question, reading activity and reflection. The lesson has been designed to be delivered without instruments or computers, though the lesson is easily adaptable to include a practical element should you wish. Prior teaching on the elements of music is recommended.
This is the perfect music lesson for a written music lesson or cover lesson with a non-specialist.
Please note: This resource includes both printable materials and audio files (MP3 format).
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Discover more cover work topics at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/megrose99
Whole scheme of learning for Elements of Music unit:
Designed for Year 7 pupils (age 11-12)
Support materials, videos provided
Pupil personal booklet provided with cognitive overload strategies in place to support pupil progress and learning
Tried and tested methods to support pupils personal progress and independence within the classroom
Assessment criteria provided to support both teacher assessment and pupil self/peer assessment
Eduqas GCSE Music Keyword Sort
A calm and low-stakes revision activity, perfect for checking that students know which musical terms belong to each of the elements of music.
Featuring all of the musical terms listed in Appendix C of the Eduqas GCSE Music specification, this revision activity requires students to organise the 240 keywords into the 12 elements of music.
Having a secure knowledge of which musical terms can be used to describe each element of music is essential in achieving success in the Appraising exam. This is especially important when answering questions that require students to describe how a particular element of music is being used within an extract of music.
Using coloured pens/pencils or highlighters, students allocate a different colour/pattern for each of the elements of music. Then, using this as a key, they match each of the keywords to the correct musical element. Some musical terms appear multiple times in the keyword table. Where this is the case, these keywords can be used to describe more than one element of music.
This resource includes a ready-to-print, blank copy of the activity, an example of a completed keyword sort, and a version that already has a colour allocated for each of the elements of music.
If you have any questions or queries about this resource, please email kbmusicresources@gmail.com
Link to KBMusicResources TES shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/kbmusicresources
Can be used in the classroom or as homelearning. Applicable to all GCSE music exam boards.
Powerpoints with information of all key words on the following elements:
Dynamics
Harmony
Melody
Metre
Rhythm
Sonority/Timbre/Effects
Structure
Tempo
Texture
Tonality
I have managed to recreate the popular card game with questions on the two set works (Badinerie - Blue and Africa- Red) alongside Elements of Music questions - Green and the other areas of study - Yellow. There are also the usual action cards from UNO like pick up 2, reverse play, miss a go, change the colour, pick up 4 and shuffle all cards!
Instructions are on a separate sheet for you to print out and give to the group of kids or for you to just have handy and supervise with the answers!
Hopefully a fun way to revise along with a bit of competition - which I find usually helps!
You will need to print the pages ON BOTH SIDES and make sure they are FLIPPED ON THE SHORT EDGE otherwise they might not line up properly with the back!
A set of six resources which will help students gain a better understanding of how to analyse the fundamental musical elements of melody, texture, harmony and tonality.
Are you searching for a full-length, structured, progressive music theory curriculum? Moving beyond the basics and aimed at secondary-age or older beginners, this series of products takes students from no music theory knowledge gradually and progressively through to more complex topics. Workbooks, student reflection tasks, answer schemes, assessments and slideshows are included, covering 6 units, each with 10 topics. Upgrade your current theory worksheets to this all-in-one, no-prep music theory curriculum!
What is it?
6x printable theory workbooks: 10 pages in each, with a new topic & 2 written tasks per page
6x slideshows: in PowerPoint and Google Slides formats, to display on the board as the students use the workbooks, with answers appearing on click
6x answer schemes: one for each workbook
18x printable quizzes: 3 per workbook, to be used as homework or assessments
Answer schemes for quizzes
Tell me more!
As a teacher of older students, they got bored of cutesy coloring sheets and babyish music literacy work and I was frustrated with a lack of theory resources which moved beyond the basics of treble clef notes and note values. I wanted to design a full curriculum which recalled previous knowledge, introduced new topics clearly with written tasks, and allowed students to move gradually onto more advanced ideas such as chord inversions, circle of fifths and transposing. No more patching together worksheets from multiple sources or writing everything on the whiteboard each lesson; this curriculum has allowed me to print the workbooks and teach from the screen and integrate theory more meaningfully into my Music lessons.
Other “bundles” of worksheets exist; what sets this curriculum apart is its progressive nature, with each lesson building on what has already been done. For example, once bass clef or a new key signature/time signature/Italian term has been introduced, it features frequently in the following exercises. This recall means concepts are firmly established rather than doing a stand-alone lesson or worksheet and never revisiting.
See the previews for a full list of topics covered, but this curriculum includes:
Treble and bass staff notes, including leger lines
Note and rest values, including dotted notes and triplets
Time signatures, including simple, compound and irregular
Italian terms, performance directions, tempo, signs and symbols
Triads, chords and cadences
Easy printing - black & white/grayscale and A4 or letter size
US and UK versions included (eighth notes/quavers, staff/stave)
Units 1-3 cover approximately:
AB grade 1 theory
Trinity grade 1 theory
LCM grade 1 theory
RCM Canada grade 1-2
AMEB Australia grade 1
Scottish SQA National 5
England/Wales pre-GCSE (year 8-9)
Units 4-6 cover approximately:
AB grade 2 theory
Trinity grade 2 theory
LCM grade 2 theory
RCM Canada grade 3
AMEB Australia grade 2
Scottish SQA Higher and Advanced Higher
England/Wales GCSE
Fun, engaging and differentiated activities to consolidate the Elements of Music. Perfect for a starter, main activity or plenary. Word searches with a difference. Pupils must either answer clues to find the words or complete further learning when words have been located. Complete with full answers.
‘Find and Connect’ task comes with an differentiated alternative ‘Find, Connect, Expand!’ for pupils needing added challenge.
‘Spot the Musical Element!’ is presented on one page as well as on two per page to suit.
No fuss, no additional work needed - a plug and play resource!
Who can resist a word search? And this one ensures your pupils will be consolidating the Elements of Music too!
Eduqas GCSE Music Terminology Booklet - All Keywords & Definitions
A 40-page glossary of keywords to support students in preparing for the Eduqas GCSE Music Appraising exam. This keyword booklet includes all musical terms listed in Appendix C of the Eduqas GCSE Music specification, organised by the elements of music, plus all related musical signs and symbols.
Having a secure knowledge and understanding of these musical terms is essential in achieving success in the Appraising exam. If they do not know what an ‘anacrusis’ is, for example, how will they know if one features in the music they are listening to?!
Contents of the booklet:
The Elements of Music
Terminology Mat (available as a free, individual download - link at the end of the description)
Melody
Articulation
Dynamics
Tonality
Structure & Form
Harmony
Instrumentation
Rhythm
Texture
Sonority (Performance Techniques & Technology)
Metre
Tempo
Notes Pages (lined & manuscript)
Ideas for using this resource:
A reference tool, on desks or in folders, for students to refer to in appraising lessons, tasks and discussions.
A set of shorter summary chapters to be handed out as each element of music is introduced.
A helpful revision tool, full of opportunities for individuals and groups of students to revise and review their knowledge of musical terminology ahead of assessments and exams.
If you have any questions or queries about this resource, please email kbmusicresources@gmail.com
Link to KBMusicResources TES shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/kbmusicresources
An information sheet for pupils to learn about the musical elements and understand their meanings.
Useful as a quick reference sheet or revision of terminology. Can be used for GCSE pupils that are struggling with terminology and remembering important vocabulary.
Grade 1 resource covers - Pitch , tempo, adding dynamics to a story and silence with visuals
Grade 2 resource covers, pitch , tempo, dynamics, texture, timbre and duration.
Texture and timbre powerpoint with match up activities (Suitable for Year 7)
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