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
Enjoyed this resource? Your feedback helps to improve and create new materials. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Discover more revision resources at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/megrose99
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!
This resource is aimed mainly at key stage 3 students but can also be used as revision for key stage 4.
It includes four Christmas themed tasks based on basic music theory, (duration, pitch in the treble clef and basic keyboard practice). The tasks can be used separately as do-now activities or fully as a Christmas game.
There is a separate performing worksheet available for students to use at the keyboards.
There are 4 activities in total:
• Duration (music and math)
• Pitch in the treble clef
• ‘Name That Tune’ activity at the keyboards (based on well-known Christmas songs)
• Composition activity based on the ‘Name That Tune’ activity.
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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
Music Christmas Quiz Christmas Interactive music Quiz Christmas / Music + Songs + Christmas + Carols. End of Term Quiz aimed at KS3 or KS4 students. Every round is completely different. Each round tests a different type of skill. Included is several YouTube Videos guessing the songs from the introductions
✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
☞Full 1 hour Quiz PowerPoint Lesson
☞* Over 10 rounds and 60+ Questions. Christmas Quiz. This resource contains:
☞* 1x PowerPoint with questions and answers
☞* 1x Student Answer Sheet double sided out of /64+ Marks
☞* Set of Editable Team Certificates (1st place)
✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
Round 1: Guess the song from the missing lyrics
Round 2: Match them up dates
Match to it’s type of word
Round 3: Christmas Cracker Jokes
Let your class have a go at pulling the four interactive Christmas Crackers
Round 4: Christmas Number 1 Hits - Youtube Video Host
Here the snippet and guess the song from our Youtube DJ
Round 5: Spot the differences at Christmas Time
Not as easy as it first appears. Which teams have a careful eye
Round 6: Christmas Truth, Fake News or a Lie
Good variety of Christmas themed questions
Round 7: Christmas Carols
Round 8: Cryptic Christmas song clues
Christmas trivia and confusion
Round 9: Multiple Choice Numbers Round
Pick the right one
✿ This quiz resource is perfect for lesson time, form time, extra curricular clubs, part of a drop down day or as a fun treat for your class.
✿ This will last a full hour for the full quiz by the time you get students into small teams and run through the Quiz and the interactive way the answers appear. A tie-breaker is included which involves create a meme top 3 score points. This informative, fun and engaging quiz will be a great way to celebrate the end of term and Christmas.
✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰✰
You may also want to check out these other great Cre8tive resources for your students
⇨ Geography Christmas Quiz
⇨ Science Christmas Quiz
⇨ Drama Christmas Quiz
⇨ Maths Christmas Quiz
⇨ BREXIT - EU in or out this Christmas
⇨ History Christmas Quiz
⇨ Christmas Quiz
An initial workbook I use for year 10 to introduce and reaffirm basic theoretical understanding that underpins the GCSE course.
Topics start from note values, rhythm, time signatures right through to, pitch, scales, intervals and chords.
Explanations, information and exercises are used along the way.
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!
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
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).
Enjoyed this resource? Your feedback helps to improve and create new materials. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
Discover more cover work topics at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/megrose99
All GCSE music specifications require students to have a comprehensive knowledge of a variety of different melodic devices, with many courses requiring students to be able to demonstrate this knowledge in both composition coursework and in the appraising exam.
This pack of 8 worksheets introduces a wide range of these devices, and includes two short composition tasks that give students an opportunity to practice using these devices before beginning their composition coursework or while preparing for the exam. Each of the worksheets that introduce new keywords come in two variants: one that has the definitions already provided, giving a useful reference or revision sheet; and one that provides a blank space for the student to write a definition for themselves. Where appropriate, each keyword is accompanied by a short musical example.
Here is a breakdown of each worksheet:
– Worksheet 1.1: An introduction to a range of melodic devices with definitions provided;
– Worksheet 1.2: An introduction to a range of melodic devices with space for students to research and write their own definition;
– Worksheet 1.3: A follow-up composition task, using the melodic devices covered in Worksheets 1.1 and 1.2;
– Worksheet 2.1: An introduction to a range of melodic devices with specific focus on devices that can be used in motivic development;
– Worksheet 2.1: An introduction to a range of melodic devices with specific focus on devices that can be used in motivic development, with definitions provided;
– Worksheet 2.2: An introduction to a range of melodic devices with specific focus on devices that can be used in motivic development, with space for students to research and write their own definition;
– Worksheet 2.3: A follow-up composition task, using the melodic devices covered in Worksheets 2.1 and 2.2;
– Worksheet 3.1: Introduction to a range of additional melodic keywords not previously covered, with definitions provided;
– Worksheet 3.2: Introduction to a range of additional melodic keywords not previously covered, with space for students to research and write their own definition.
Previews of the first page of each worksheet are available from the files list.
Throughout the worksheets, the following keywords are covered: Conjunct, disjunct, scalic, triadic, passing note, broken chord, ornament, trill, acciaccatura, appoggiatura, sequence, augmentation, diminution, retrograde, glissando, melisma, blue notes, diatonic, chromatic, riff, ostinato, inversion, hook, articulation, improvisation, legato, staccato, and marcato.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to check this coverage of keywords against the exam board specification, this worksheet pack does not intend to offer complete coverage for all specifications.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
This worksheet, “Exploring the World of Film Music”, is a valuable resource for KS3 cover lessons, especially suitable for non-specialist or supply teachers. It provides an engaging educational experience with minimal preparation needed.
Here’s what this resource includes:
In-Depth Introduction: A thorough introduction to film music, explaining its role in storytelling and how different scores contribute to a film’s emotional impact.
Interactive Exploration Task: An activity where students analyze a film scene with various musical scores, offering a practical understanding of how music shapes a film’s mood and narrative.
Critical Thinking Questions: Designed to reinforce students’ understanding, these questions encourage reflection on the nuances of film music.
Extension Activity: For advanced learners, this task involves a deeper analysis of music’s influence on film perception, providing a more challenging exploration.
Homework Assignment: Extends learning outside the classroom, where students critique film music in a chosen movie, enhancing their analytical skills.
Key Features of the Worksheet:
Optimized for One-Hour Lessons: Tailored to fit a standard one-hour teaching slot.
Minimal Teacher Input Required: Ideal for cover lessons, requiring little preparation.
Aligned with the UK National Curriculum: Ensures relevance and educational value for KS3 students.
Self-Contained Learning Experience: Offers all necessary information and tasks for a complete lesson.
Exploring the World of Film Music" is designed to empower students with a deeper understanding and appreciation of film music, making it an excellent, user-friendly resource for cover lessons.
A standalone worksheet that can be used for a cover lesson, even when delivered by a non-specialist. Aimed at KS3, Year 7. No additional resources required - just print and go.
This high-quality worksheet is just the thing when you’re out of the classroom and don’t know who is going to be covering you. It contains all in the information that students need to answer the questions, with space to write on the worksheet. The resource is four pages long, providing plenty of activities to fill a lesson, but is large enough to be printed two sheets to a page and double sided so that each student only needs one sheet of paper.
You don’t need to worry about finding additional bits of paper or other resources. There is room to answer questions on the sheet and students only need a pen!
I wanted to make the resource as flexible as possible so that I can keep a class set printed and if there is an emergency I can just throw it on the desk and still know that my class has meaningful work to complete.
Quick View
