Two sheets which can be printed double-sided and laminated for a quick performance activity which the students enjoy: Lead sheet: melody and chords Riff: keyboard and guitar Guitar chords As an introductory activity I get the students to listen to the track and try to answer the question: ‘Who is the “us” in the song?’ It provides some really interesting discussion as well as ensuring they know the song before the begin to practice it!

I have used this form when giving feedback on informal compositions that have been submitted throughout the year in my year 9 and 10 classes. The students have enjoyed the structure that this form provides and have used it for reflection as they tackle their next compositional task.

Provided in this bundle is a PDF containing: A lead sheet (melody and chords) for both keyboard and guitar (TAB) The piano riff for piano, guitar and bass Guitar chords There is also a PowerPoint presentation containing nine different musical concepts which can be taught through this class performance (e.g. broken chord, riff, etc.). The PowerPoint focuses in on the particular moment in which the concept is found and provides a simple explanation.

These are useful tools for GCSE (Edexcel) music students. They could be used in a variety of ways, for example: A revision tool: using the boxes provided, students tick or comment when/how they hear each of the concepts and in which of the pieces A companion to annotating the score: this allows students to see how a particular concept is used across the different set works.

Here are two lesson starters plus a lead sheet (both PDF and .sib) for Clocks by Coldplay. Starter 1: comparison between two versions of Clocks (Coldplay vs. Buena Vista Social Club) Starter 2: extracting some musical concepts from the music (sequence, countermelody, broken chord, etc.)

This 8 page booklet guides the students through the necessary steps to composing a coherent 16 bar Scottish melody. Using a couple of Scottish waltzes as stimuli, the students are asked to analyse and discover ways in which they can apply the ideas from these waltzes in their own compositions. I have used this resource both in Scotland and abroad (it fulfills the world music component that way!) and students have enjoyed the straightforward way in which composition is presented. Eventually they have a piece which they can call their own and with which they can develop further (e.g. writing a countermelody above their initial 16 bars to provide a ‘B’ section). It’s certainly not the most creative way to teach melodic writing, but it is functional and provides confidence in composition which many learners often lack. I have always begun learners using this workbook and then using it in collaboration with MuseScore or Sibelius.

This was arranged for the school brass quintet although it could be used as the basis for many other arrangements. The Sibelius file is included for this reason.

An excellent piece for award evening or concert opener! You will find both PDF (score and parts) as well as a Sibelius file which you may use to transpose/add/arrange to suit your own orchestra or band. This arrangement was written for: Violin I Violin II Cello Trumpet I Trumpet II French horn Trombone Drumkit Piano (reduction of score for rehearsal)

This project was designed to fill a brief period of online learning. There are 5 stages which are outlined in the PowerPoint/Google Slides which could take 2 or 3 weeks to complete depending on how quickly you decide to progress. The PowerPoint/Google Slides have been designed for students to use and to make notes in as they work through the compositional process. I also have a copy for myself which I can present to the learners during each online lesson. Contents of Course: A PDF detailing how to run the course with hints and tips An online workbook in PowerPoint and Google Slides format which guides students through the project from beginning to end An activity template in various formats for you to import into whichever Notation Software you are using A completed canon that you can use as an example which is in various formats for you to import into whichever Notation Software you are using

These three lessons serve as an introduction to the first piece in the GCSE Edexcel music syllabus. Lesson 1: straight into the detail of the piece Lesson 2: the bigger picture of Baroque Lesson 3: instrumentation & structure Two homework sheets which fit in between the lessons (one research task and one musical literacy task) Also included is a Sibelius file ‘If Vivaldi Used Sibelius’ which imagines how life would have been much easier for Baroque composers and their extensive use of sequences if only they have computer technology (Copy and Paste!). I’ve found this quite an effective way of highlighting sequences. The YouTube video is for homework 2 where they have to fill in the missing notes, time signature, etc. Some final points: These lessons could be swapped and taught in any order. The links to many YouTube videos are embedded within the PowerPoint. The PowerPoint was created with the SmartBoard in mind so some slides have blank manuscript ready to be filled out by the teacher or a student in real time as opposed to the answer fading in.

*** Useful for online learning if students have access to a device* ** This is a comprehensive 6 week course for Key Stage 3 in which they will: Recognise and describe EDM (Electronic Dance Music) Use an online DAW (Soundtrap) to create a track of music (sequencing loops) Use MIDI a device correctly Upload their track online to share it with others in their year for constructive comments The extensive PowerPoint covers every aspect of these aims and guides the class through each required stage. Having developed and run this course a couple of times I can honestly say that students have really connected with and enjoyed these 6 lessons. It has served me particularly well during the final term when the focus and attention of some students in KS3 is lacking…! Perfect for the end of term. If you do not have access to MIDI devices you can still run the course! You can use the keyboard provided with Soundtrap. Everything has been embedded into the PowerPoint (videos and mp3). However, in case any links are broken I have included all required videos and mp3s.

Updated with smaller PowerPoint presentation files to make downloading and opening them up for each class easier. Also included is a brief ‘how-to’ guide in order to make sure the videos work! A complete scheme of workfor Key Stage 3 which takes the learners through each instrument and section of the orchestra using movie scores. Included in this download are: 3 large ** PowerPoint presentations** which provide the structure for each class. Active listening activities are used throughout. Excellent examples of instruments using clips from movies and the soundtracks. Sheet music of the melodies that are used for each instrument and section (PDF and Word format) A rigorous assessment (/40) which takes up the final lesson (PDF and Word format). Links to the audio and video used in the assessment are found in the file Audio for Assessment. Scheme overview and individual lesson plans A how-to guide for making sure the embedded vidoes actually work! When I created the PowerPoint for myself I obtained the videos and inserted them directly into the PowerPoint presentations. This allows you to click a small part of the video and it will play full screen which explains some of the slide layouts. Due to copyright I have embedded the videos within the PowerPoint and these will link seamlessly to YouTube. There are some instances where audio files are required - links to these can be found in the PDF Audio for PowerPoint Presentations. The PowerPoint slides are shown correctly on the preview but should work perfectly when downloaded. If not please do not hesitate to contact me!

A complete scheme of work for Key Stage 3 which introduces learners to the samba through listening activities and a practical performance. Included in this download are: 2 PowerPoint presentations, one of which provide lesson starters and active listening activities and the other provides a structure in which to insert a samba.* I used a samba from a published resource and so it is not included in this PowerPoint. However, this PowerPoint provides a very clear and useful structure in which you can insert your own samba rhythms.* An assessment rubric for use with a whole class when assessing the final performance. Sheet music for Mas Que Nada which will is performed with the samba rhythm: lead sheet, guitar chords, keyboard chords, keyboard extension. A video that needs inserted into the PowerPoint which provides an effective overview of the history of samba A full set of lesson plans