KS2–3 Music: Composer of the Day – October Reading & Listening

Make literacy and music history part of your classroom every day in October!
This ready-to-use pack introduces students to a new composer each day, with short, accessible biographies, engaging comprehension questions, suggested answers, and QR codes linking directly to listening clips. Perfect for cross-curricular learning, cultural capital, and building stronger reading skills.

What’s Included

• 31 Composer Profiles (1st–31st October) – each with a 150-word biography at an age-appropriate level
• 5 Daily Comprehension Questions – covering retrieval, vocabulary, inference, explanation, and summary
• Suggested Answers – ideal for whole-class discussion or independent marking
• QR Codes to Music Clips – instant access to performances via MusicOfTheDay.co.uk (my own website)
• Range of Genres & Eras – from Baroque to contemporary, film scores to jazz

Benefits for Teachers & Students

• Cross-curricular value – strengthen literacy while exploring music and history.
• No prep required – ideal for daily starters, assemblies, guided reading, or music lessons.
• Engages curiosity – connects reading with real listening experiences.
• Differentiation built in – questions range from simple retrieval to higher-order thinking.
• Versatile use – works in full lessons, short tasks, homework, or supply cover.

Featured Composers

Students meet a wide range of 31 composers – one for each day of October:

• Classical masters – Chopin, Verdi, Bruch, Bruckner, Scarlatti
• Modern and contemporary voices – Steve Reich, Sofia Gubaidulina, Thomas Newman
• Film & popular composers – Stanley Myers, Harold Faltermeyer, Stephen Warbeck
• Jazz & world influences – Clarence Williams, Gilberto Mendes, Mahmoud Zoufonoun
• Global perspectives – Akira Miyoshi (Japan), Priaulx Rainier (South Africa/UK), Hiroshi Yoshimura (Japan)

This balance of familiar names and hidden gems ensures both breadth and depth for your students.

How to Make the Most of This Resource

• Use as a daily “composer of the day” starter to spark discussion.
• Create a class timeline or display wall as October progresses.
• Assign comprehension tasks as independent reading or homework.
• Pair with creative writing (e.g. reviews, diary entries, letters to the composer).
• Link listening tasks to music appreciation lessons or assemblies.

Why Teachers Love It

Teachers save valuable planning time, pupils gain literacy and cultural knowledge, and everyone enjoys meaningful exposure to music that stretches far beyond the classroom.

Perfect for:

• Classroom teachers (Grades 3–6 / UK KS2 & KS3)
• Substitute/supply teachers needing ready-to-use lessons
• Homeschool families seeking structured daily activities
• Cross-curricular projects linking English, Music, and History

Add October Composers to your cart today and make every day of October a chance to inspire through music and reading!