If you have a passion for music and love all things techy you are in the right place!
The Music Espionage was put together by Stuart Pennington way back in early 2010. A Studio Production and Composition graduate from Derby University. At the time Stuart was working as an A-Level Music Technology lecturer in Manchester and got frustrated with the complete lack of straightforward tutorials he could find anywhere.
If you have a passion for music and love all things techy you are in the right place!
The Music Espionage was put together by Stuart Pennington way back in early 2010. A Studio Production and Composition graduate from Derby University. At the time Stuart was working as an A-Level Music Technology lecturer in Manchester and got frustrated with the complete lack of straightforward tutorials he could find anywhere.
** 1960/70s Music: Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae**
After some wonderful feedback, here is the new and updated version! This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part six in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the rise of Jamaica’s very own popular music genres that later went on to late over the world.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet
HOMEWORK task – written worksheet (Gapped questions)
REVISION- Genre outline and history
REVISION- Recommended Listening - Artists and Songs
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
**Covered in 1960/70s Music: Ska, Rock Steady & Reggae **
Lesson Recap (Part five)
The importance of portable discotheques and sound systems in Jamaica
History and outline of Rocksteady music
History and outline of Ska music
The birth of Reggae music and popular artists
One Drop Drums – drumming technique
Genre and Style detailed outline
** 1970s Music: Punk Rock **
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part eight in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the key aspects and influences of Punk Rock and its later developments into genres like New-Wave, Indie and Alternative Rock.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet (with teacher Answer sheet)
HOMEWORK task – written worksheet on Punk Music
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
**Covered in 1970s Music: Punk Rock **
Lesson Recap (Part seven – Soul, Funk and Disco)
Outline of 1970’s Britain and the birth of the Punk movement
The part of the guitar in Punk music
Punk Artists and Stylistic aspects of the music
Punk’s later developments and Sub-gerens
** 1990-2000s Music-Club Dance**
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part twelve in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the key aspects and influences Club Dance Music Genres, these including; House, Techno, Drum and Bass, Garage, Trance and Dub.
In this package:
Lecture
REVISION– Techno and House Music
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Covered in 1990-2000s Music-Club Dance
Background to “Club” music and Discotheques
What is Clue Dance Music?
Music Technology used and Artist Moulton
Music Equipment used
Remix and mixing music
House Music
Outline of House music
Techno Music
Drum and Bass Music
Garage Music
Trance Music
Dub, 2-Step and creating the “Rhythm”
1950’s Music: Rock’n’Roll-&-Rockabilly
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part three in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the rise of teen culture in 1950s America and the Baby Boomer Generation, the development of the electric guitar in pop music and how Rock ‘n’ Roll became the main style of popular music at that time.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheets (two homework/research tasks)
Listening Exercise worksheet with Teacher ANSWER sheet
REVISION- Rock n Roll: Terminology & Vocabulary
REVISION- Recommended Listening - Artists and Songs
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Covered in 1950’s Music: Rock’n’Roll-&-Rockabilly
Lesson Recap (Part one/two)
The Baby Boomer Generation and rise of Teen/Youth culture
The development of Rhythm and Blue with Blues Music
How the Electric Guitar became the main instrument of the music
Rockabilly music genre
The Bo Diddley Beat and this rhythm is still used today
The birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll music, and the genres that influenced it (Rhythm & Blues, Rockabilly, Blues, Gospel and Country)
First Rock song – Rock Around the Clock
Rock ‘n’ Roll recording techniques
Slap-Back Echo in Rock Music
** 1980s Music- Electro & Synth Pop**
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part TEN in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the key aspects and influences of 1980’s Electro and Synth Pop.
In this package:
Lecture
RESOURCE-Recommended - Listening-1980s Music- Electro & Synth Pop
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
1980s Music- Electro & Synth Pop
Recapping Indie and New Waves Genres (Part Nine)
Leon Theremin and early Electronic Instruments
Robert Moog and early Synthesizes
Wendy Carlos and using Electronic Instruments
Outline and development of Synth Pop
The Roland TR-77 and how it was used in this music
Outline and Development of New Romanticism music
Quick outline to writing a Synth Pop song.
** 1980-90s Music- HipHop and Rap**
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part nine in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the key aspects and influences of Indie Rock and New Wave Music genres.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet – Part 1
Classroom Worksheet – Part 2
REVISION– Introduction to HipHop – Part 1
REVISION– Outline and history of HipHop and Rap – Part 2
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Covered in 1980-90s Music- HipHop and Rap
Origins of Rap – Jamaican Dance-hall and “Toasting”
Hip-Hop begins in the Bronx, New York
Overview of Rap
Performance and Arrangement
The Tricks of Rap
Main Artists
Technological Influences
Equipment Used
Technology and Production
Gangsta Rap and Pop Rap
Outline of Hip-Hop
Pre-1950’s: Blues, Jazz - Cool & Be-Bop
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part two in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the early development of the Popular Music, recapping Tin-Pan-Ally, Ragtime and Swings genres from the last lesson. It then covers the development of Jazz music, Cool Jazz and the Birth and development of Blue music.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheets
Music examples needed for this lecture
REVISION-History of Jazz Music
REVISION-History of Blue Music
MP3 - Boogie-Woogie Bass Line (Audio Example)
MIDI - Boogie-Woogie Bass Line (Audio Example)
SCORE – Music Notation - Boogie-Woogie Bass Line (Audio Example)
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Covered in Pre1950s: Blues, Jazz and Be-Bop
Lesson Recap (Part one)
Swing’s development into Bebop Jazz
Dissonance used in Jazz Music
Artist and Music examples (linked with resources)
Cool Jazz genre
Birth of Blues Music
Blues Music Structure
Blues and Boogie-Woogie Music styles
Follow-up classroom tasks and exercises
1950/60s Music: British Invasion & Skiffle
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part four in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the rise of American pop music becoming more and more popular with British bands/artists and how they developed this into something new and formed their own music. Soon British artists became so popular they “Invaded” the America charts.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheets (with full ANSWER SHEET for teachers)
VIDEO - Skiffle music example (720p)
HOMEWORK task – written worksheet (with full ANSWER SHEET for teachers)
REVISION- Recommended Listening - Artists and Songs
CATCH-UP LESSON – Free lesson recapping and covering new topics in this genre
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Covered in 1950/60s Music: British Invasion & Skiffle
Lesson Recap (Part three)
The Baby Boomer Generation and rise of Teen/Youth culture
How American Rock ‘n’ Roll became popular with British artists
Skiffle Video example
Liverpool’s development of modern pop music at the time
“Telstar” first British number 1 in America
The rise of Beatlemania
How The Beatles took over the world
Equipment used in the studio
The impact of the British Invasion
Mods – new music style to develop
Creating a Dubstep Wobble in Logic
This supporting classroom resource provides an excellent first lesson into the music genre of Dub-Step, and how to create the style’s iconic wobble sound. The guide is predominantly aimed at using the Logic Pro software. If you are not familiar with this software please do not use this resource.
In this package:
Classroom Worksheet - PDF
Classroom Worksheet - IMAGES (x4)
** Covered in Popular Song Structures **
Common form and structures used in Dub-Step music
Dub-Step music overview
Step-by-step guide to create a “wobble” FX in Logic Pro software
Related examples of songs and artists
1960s Music: Psychedelic Rock
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part five in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the rise of Psychedelic rock music and its strong connections with psychedelic drugs throughout the 1960s.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet (with full ANSWER SHEET for teachers)
REVISION- Recommended Listening - Artists and Songs
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Covered in 1960s Music: Psychedelic Rock
Lesson Recap (Part four)
Lesson Aims and Objectives
The birth of Psychedelic rock in 1960s culture
Woodstock Festive and it importance
The Cold War and other major events of the time
UK and USA leading artists throughout this period
Psychedelic rock and The Beatles
Characteristics of this genre
Recording Techniques of the time and ‘The Wall of Sound’ technique
** Build Your Own Dynamic Microphone **
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is to aid in the basic understanding of different professional microphone types and how these are used with the studio. This lesson mainly covers the elements of a Dynamic Microphone, however with would fit very well in any practical or theory based lesson explaining recording studio production.
In this package:
Worksheet – step by steps guide to creating a Dynamic microphone (pdf)
Worksheet – in image .jpeg format
Link to YouTube video tutorial
REVISION- microphone types, polar patterns and stereo recording
WORKSHEET- Microphone Word-Link exercise and Task Sheet
HOMEWORK – Important words to remember research task.
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
AUDIO - Example of the microphone used on vocals
AUDIO - Example of the microphone used on acoustic guitar
AUDIO - Example of the microphone used on electric guitar
** Common Guitar Techniques**
This lecture and supporting classroom resources provide an excellent resource to showcasing all the different performance techniques available to guitar and electric guitar performers. This would an excellent addition to teaching these techniques, but also for none guitar players in a class to be able to hear what these techniques sound like and know the kinds of musical genres they are used.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet
Audio Examples;
- Pick Scrape
- Whammy Bar
- String Bending
- Palm Mute
- Dive Bomb
- Harmonics
- Tapping
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
** Common Guitar Techniques **
Parts of the Guitar
Whammy Bar and Vibrato sounds
String Bending + common artists
Pick Slide/Scrape
Palm Mute + common music genres
Guitar Harmonics
Dive Bomb
Tapping
Tremolo Picking
Summary of Lesson
** 1970-80-90s Music-Indie Rock and New Wave**
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part nine in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the key aspects and influences of Indie Rock and New Wave Music genres.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet (with teacher Answer sheet)
HOMEWORK– written worksheet on Indie Music and important Record Labels
POSTER – Full A3 posted covering Indie Rock and artists
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
1970-80-90s Music-Indie Rock and New-Wave
Major/Independent Record Labels
The BIG 4 Record Labels currently
Independent Charts
History of Factory Record – Manchester
Factory Record – Happy Mondays and ‘Mad’chester genres
History of Rough Trade – London
Important follow on genre to form Indie Rock and New-Wave
Guide to Chord Construction - WALL CHART-A4
The Guide to Chord Construction wall chart covers a massive range of chords, with 26 in total. The poster/chart provides a really simple table to reference and check a wide range of chords. The chords are all shown within the Key of C Major, however the “Formula” information allows for all the chords to be transposed into different keys. The chart would act as an excellent tool for composing and arranging.
** Quiz: Music and Music Technology – Pack 2**
A classroom quiz is a great way to aid in student learning, provide feedback for staff about the student’s abilities and current knowledge and promote lesson attendance. This is the second quiz pack; it contains two full music and music technology quizzes. Each with mixture of listening and visual questions related to Music and Music Technology to engage learners throughout.
In this package:
X2 PowerPoint presentations with embedded images and audio
X2 QUESTION sheets (in Colour and Black and White)
X2 ANSWER Sheets
ZIP Folder – this containing all the audio and images
X2 PDF version of Questions/Presentation
** Covered in Quiz: Music and Music Technology – Pack 1 **
Guitar Techniques – Listening Skills
Common Studio FX – Listening Skills
Microphone types
Microphone Polar Patterns
Rhythm – Listening Skills
Studio FXs and Plugins
Music Theory – Score/Notation
Music Intervals
1970s Music: Soul, Disco and Funk
This lecture and supporting classroom resources is part seven in the “History of Popular Music” package. It covers the key aspects and influences of Soul, Funk and Disco music and its important artists.
In this package:
Lecture
Classroom Worksheet (with teacher Answer sheet)
HOMEWORK task – written worksheet on Soul Music
REVISION- written task on Stax and Motown Records
POSTER- A3 poster on Soul music artists and Stax and Motown Records
AUDIO – Example of the Leslie Speaker used in lots of Funk/Soul music
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
**Covered in 1970s Music-Soul, Disco and Funk **
Lesson Recap (Part six - Reggae)
Outline and important elements of Soul Music
Stax and Atlantic Records
Motown Records
Typical “Stax Sound” – Sam and Dave ‘Soul Man’ Listening Skills
Outline of Funk Music
The Leslie Speaker
Audio example of Leslie Speaker
Outline of Disco Music and important Artists
Use of Wall of Sound Technique in recordings from this time
** UAL-Level 2-Unit 8-Music Performance and Production Project-FULL UNIT**
This assignment brief and supporting classroom resources are aimed especially for the UAL – Level 2 “Award and Diploma in Music Performance and Production”, Final Project Unit 8.
They provide an excellent guide to structuring and student evidence for this unit.
This Resource is to be used along with additional evidence a centre would like to collect from the student. It is the centre’s responsibility to ensure it covers and meets their requirements and standards.
In this package:
ASSIGNMNET – Unit 8 – Full brief covering all criteria and learning aims (.pdf)
WORKSHEET – TASK 1 – “Research” – Learning Aim 1 (criteria 1.1 + 1.2) – written research report for learners to complete.
DIARY TEMPLATE – TASK 2 – “Planning and Production” – This covering Learning Aim 2 (criteria 2.1 + 2.2 + 2.3) – weekly diary for learners to complete.
WORKSHEET – TASK 4 – “Evaluation” – Learning Aim 4 (criteria 4.1) – written report allowing student’s to evaluate the process.
HOMEWORK – TASK 4 – “Evaluation” –Learning Aim 4 (criteria 4.1) – written SWOT analysis template, used to aid students in evaluating their project.
HOMEWORK – Development of Unit 8 project ideas. To be used in the early stages of developing ideas for unit 8 project.
** UAL-L3-Unit 8 - Collaborative Music Performance Project-FULL**
This assignment brief and supporting classroom resources are aimed especially for the UAL – Level 3 “Diploma in Music Performance & Production”, Final Project Unit 8.
They provide an excellent guide to structuring and student evidence for this unit.
This Resource is to be used along with additional evidence a centre would like to collect from the student. It is the Centre’s responsibility to ensure it covers and meets their requirements and standards.
In this package:
ASSIGNMNET – Unit 8 – Full brief covering all criteria and learning aims (.pdf)
WORKSHEET – TASK 1 – “Proposal” – Learning Aim 1 – Written template for Project Proposal, Bibliography and Weekly Plan.
STUDENT GUIDE – TASK 1 – Guide to writing the Project Proposal
STUDENT QUESTIONS – TASK 1 – Possible questions for staff to use if they are also conducting a presentation as extra evidence for Task 1 Context’.
HOMEWORK - Research-Harvard Referencing – Starting your Bibliography and finding research for your project.
EXAMPLE - Task 1-Example of Bibliography and Research Comments
WORKSHEET – TASK 2 – “Research” – Learning Aim 2 – Written template for Project Research Bibliography.
STUDENT GUIDE – TASK 2 – Guide to the written Research Report.
WORKSHEET-Task 3-Diary Template – “Practical Skills”
WORKSHEET-Task 4 – Evaluation Template
** History of Pop Music – FULL LIBRARY**
These lectures and supporting classroom resources form a full library of material covering the development of modern music from pre-1950s all the way to contemporary Club Dance and Hip- Hop genres. The resources within this bundle would easily cover a full terms worth of work and could be used for GCSE, NCFE, A-Level and BTEC level 1, 2 and 3 course framework.
In this package:
Lectures (12 full presentations, each linking together, providing a full scheme of work for teaching).
WORKSHEETS – The majority of the lessons come with a worksheet (with teacher answers) that link with the lesson/presentation
HOMEWORK – again many of the lessons also come with additional learning research and homework tasks, also with answers sheets to support.
REVISION - These are worksheets to aid student learning and allow for revising
POSTER – some of the presentations even come with a A3 poster
AUDIO/MIDI – some of the presentation and lessons also have connected audio and MIDI examples to aid teaching.
Video (each presentation also comes in video form, used for student revision)
** History of Pop Music – FULL LIBRARY **
1 - Pre1950s Music: Tin Pan Alley, Ragtime and Swing (presentation, video, worksheet, revision notes)
2 - Pre-1950’s Music: Blues, Jazz-Cool & Be-Bop (presentation, video, worksheets, revision notes, MIDI, audio and score)
3 - 1950’s Music: Rock’n’Roll & Rockabilly (presentation, video, 3 worksheets and answers, revision notes and terminology/vocabulary sheet)
4 - 1950-60s Music: British Invasion & Skiffle (presentation, video, worksheets and answers, revision notes and homework sheet)
5 - 1960s Music: Psychedelic Rock (presentation, video, worksheet and answers, recommending listening resource)
6 - 1960-70s Music: Ska, Rock Steady & Reggae (presentation, video, worksheet and answers, homework and revision sheet)
7 - 1970s Music: Soul, Disco and Funk (presentation, video, worksheets and answers, homework, classroom poster and revision sheet)
8 - 1970s Music: Punk Rock (presentation, video, worksheet and answers, homework and revision sheet)
9 - 1970-80s Music: Indie Rock and New Wave (presentation, video, worksheets and answers, homework, classroom poster and revision sheet)
10 - 1980s Music: Electro & Synth Pop (presentation, video, recommending listening resource)
11 - 1980-90s Music: HipHop and Rap (presentation, video, worksheets and answers, homework, and revision sheets)
12 - 1990-2000s Music: Club Dance (presentation, video and revision sheet)
Audio Analog-to-Digital Conversion
This lecture and supporting classroom resources provide an excellent guide to Audio Analog-to-Digital Conversion and how this process is achieved. The PowerPoint presentation and PDF versions of the lesson links with the classroom task and also comes with an accompanying Lesson Plan.
In this package:
PRESENTATION - Lecture (PowerPoint and PDF versions)
LESSON PLAN – Plan covering full lesson with activities (Word Doc.)
WORKSHEET - Classroom task with listening exercise.
ANSWERS – classroom task answers.
Video (presentation in video form, used for student revision)
Audio Analog-to-Digital Conversion
Aims and Objectives
Basic Parameters of Sound
Waveform
Frequency
Amplitude
Recording and Play-Back of Analog Audio
Digital Information: = Analog-to-Digital Conversion
Sample Rate - Frequency Resolution
Nyquist Theorem
Bit Depth – Amplitude Resolution
Recap/Lesson Summary
