Activities and worksheets to support a practical sequence of lessons on using Keyboards to help understand and apply knowledge of triads. No particular order. The activities could be applied during different KS3 units, such as improvisation, variations, structure, or could be put together to support a keyboard unit.

A selection of resources used to spark off discussion in a variety of themes, usually with a Christian Collective Worship theme in mind. See also a second collection on my resource page. Feedback welcomed.

Assembly ideas for a theme of 'rules to live by' including a small follow up task.

A further selection of resources used to spark off discussion in a variety of themes, usually with a Christian Collective Worship theme in mind. Hopefully added to week by week! See my resource page for the first collection. Feedback welcomed!

A powerpoint to revise themes of the elements. (Get the children to predict what is on each page). A group card sorting activity which should pick up holes in knowledge, maybe for a new GCSE group, and a writing frame encouraging use of element vocab in comparing two pieces of music.

A Symphony made up of a medley of traditional sea shanty tunes. When printed each part can be made into an A3 booklet (A4 pages). Put a blank page at the beginning and there won't be any page turns during a movement. This is the third of 5 Symphonies I've written for Junior Orchestra. The others are all original compositions. rupert.kirby@btinternet.com if you're interested in finding out more. Very cheap as it'll cost you an arm and a leg to print! Performing rights granted freely. (Recordings would be very gratefully received!)

Ideas for an assembly about the power of words to destroy or to heal.

A prompt for a very simple structured activity creating Variations from a tune. A writing prompt for comparing variations from a listening activity. A worksheet to help with a look at the Trout Variations by Schubert Ideas for group work creating variations from proverbs. Keyboard task Variations on Oh When the Saints

A graphic representation of the progression of key signatures around a circle. For anyone studying music theory.

A ship sailed up to Bideford The Wildwood Song Faces on the stair. Intermediate String Orchestra Arrangements of original folk song tunes written while I was performing with a North Devon folk group. Copies of the songs available on request. (pdf)

Simple ensemble fanfare written for Wider Opportunities Mixed Brass project. Suitable for beginners

Not related to the TV programme, this tune was written for a poem by Cicely Fox-Smith. Melodic, with lots of textural variety, useful training piece for intermediate to senior ensemble, but with a range of difficulties in the parts.

A piece written for a collaborative festival with plenty of scope for getting primary and secondary musicians to work together. Orchestral score and piano and percussion score would suit a double conductor role. Primary Percussion score has the piano part and can be performed without orchestra. Orchestration works without primary percussion and can include improvised drum kit or djembes instead.

Engaging melody and range of parts to suit most mixed school ensembles. No percussion parts written, but performs well with Djembes or Drum Kit improvisation. Full instrumentation not necessary, but the more the merrier!

A further selection of resources used to spark off discussion in a variety of themes, usually with a Christian Collective Worship theme in mind. Hopefully added to week by week! See my resource page for the first two collections. Feedback welcomed!

The second in a series of 5 Little Symphonies for School or Amateur Orchestras Written for and first performed by the West Somerset Junior Orchestra. Performing rights freely granted, if you want to share a performance on YouTube or Soundcloud that would be brilliant!

Music for Mixed ability Orchestra with parts ranging from ABRSM grades1-5 Original Composition - first of 5 composed for the West Somerset Junior Orchestra 4 movements roughly following the early classical style. Performing rights freely granted, but if you feel like posting a performance on Soundcloud or YouTube, that would be brilliant!

Fourth in a series of Little Symphonies written for and first performed by West Somerset Junior Orchestra Suitable for mixed ability school or amateur orchestras ABRSM grades 2-6 Performing rights freely granted, but if you could make a recording for Soundcloud or YouTube that would be brilliant!

A set of 20 short sight reading exercises in 4 levels from basic open strings to the use of three fingers and some phrase marks.

The fifth in the series of Little Symphonies written for intermediate school orchestra, first performed by the West Somerset Junior Orchestra. Loosely classical in style with influences from African Drum rhythms and other musical fields. Suitable for players of a wide age range with parts ranging from grade 1 to 6 roughly.