A worksheet illustrating the origin and background to Rap music. A template is provided to create lyrics with or without a background beat in the classroom. This can be accompanied with a simple, but limited, patois dictionary (also available on my resource site) to support students. Brief level descriptors are provided to enable students to understand where they are in their learning and what they can do to improve. A simple feedback section provides information by students as to the difficulties they faced. The second page provides key words for the techniques used in DJ performance. This lesson can either start with a DJ illustration with the lyrics constructed afterwards or the lyrics tested out in partners or groups followed by a DJ beat with progressive additions to improve the piece.

Are you fed up helping students with technical problems when using Garageband technology in the classroom? Constantly saying the same things to students who clearly haven’t listened to your verbal advice and find yourself running around the classroom dealing with the same problem, feeling you and your students are making little progress? Copy (and laminate if you can) and place by each computer for students use. It is likely that you will spend more time teaching, rather than working up a sweat around the classroom. The guide sheet gives simple advice that is easily understood and solved by students on their own. It is good to refuse to help, unless they refer to the card for help first. Additionally, one can include the rule that they must have also asked the person next to them too before they are allowed to ask you.

Suitable for most year 7 and 8 classes and uses three speech patterns to establish Calypso rhythms in the musical memories of students. The speech patterns can be performed as such as a string of rhythms, in canon (up to three parts) and can then be transferred to using pitch from set chords notes. This can be practiced before recording onto any musical recording software producing a phrases of Calypso melodies. This can act as part of a series of lessons going onto adding the bass for each chord used and fill parts.

This suitable for all years above year 8 and firmly bases the style in its historical context, leading students to compare classical composers with contemporary ones using Ground Bass in similar and different ways. Designed so that students can input four simple tracks into any music composition software reproducing the Pachelbel Canon harmonic structure. Students are led to enter the notes again in a second section with suggested differences and are encouraged to progress to as many different versions they can produce. A brief appraisal and ‘pupil voice’ is included at the end to enable you to see how students dealt with the task.

A simple worksheet that enables students to understand the principles of musical structure but, in particular, the changing concept of variations in music. This is a worksheet that would be appropriate for GCSE or year 9 classes studying the genre and would be a good exercise after a starter. It can be used for a non-specialist or cover teacher part of a lesson.

Fed up of trying to spread yourself around your GCSE music composition class giving individual advice and trying to get around everyone?! If you have set your class a song composition, then this self-help guide will help your students and enable you to be more efficient with your time - and less exhausted! Suitable for GCSE composition and able year 9 students to help guide them through the possible choices available to them whilst composing, suggesting ideas but using the standard format of a pop song.

A worksheet suitable for a non-specialist (cover work) or as a preparatory lesson to a practical series of lessons performing reggae music. Short paragraphs with following questions as well as the opportunity for students to draw as well as express their own views/opinions about Rastafarian belief.

Suitable for a non-specialist as well as for a preparatory lesson on practical African drumming. A simple reading and comprehension exercise which informs students on the nature of drumming in African tribal societies as well a the type of drums used as well as in what context.

A practical worksheet which uses a set number of speech phrases to introduce students to the rhythms of waltz. A preparatory session using these speech phrases enable students to produce a rhythm string. This prepares them for a waltz melody using Sibelius software. The lesson can be preceded by students learning how to “box” waltz.

A step-by-step guide enabling students to create a simple three part waltz adding a bass, fill and melody using Garageband or other similar software package. This would suit a class who have already covered the basic three triads.

A practical worksheet which would benefit from an initial demonstration using Garageband or other similar software. This would enable students to create one or more variations on a simple nursery rhyme theme. This would suit a class who are familiar with triads already, but are moving on to the use of the three basic triads. The worksheet is in Publisher format. Students can be challenged to use their listening skills to see which triad fits the melody at any time. This can be an activity using trail and error initially but refined to create a simple bass line and a fill part using triad notes. It would be expected that this continue to a succeeding lesson, which develops different versions.

A step-by-step guide to creating a simple medieval piece using Garageband (but can be simply adapted to include other common music software), as well as an Assessment sheet for students to self assess and provide feedback to you on their learning experience. The worksheet helps to produce compositions of different levels of complexity according to ability. Model the task on a Smartboard, if you have one, or illustrate on a practical basis by using simple Orff tuned percussion for a drone, a tin whistle or recorded for a melody using the Dorian mode. This worksheet limits the constant demands of help from students and supports you in managing your time between all members of the class

A written worksheet that would be suitable for a non-specialist allowing students to access the internet later in the lesson to complete some research on the sounds of the instruments. The concept of Drone and Mode needs to be known.

A worksheet (in publisher format) that enables students to perform Leitmotifs used in films. It provides two choices in performing a short Leitmotif from well-known films: Jaws or Star Wars. The most able are provided with a guide to create their own Leitmotif.

Designed for key stage three for classes dealing with chords for the first time. Linked to Garageband, but can be used with any other software. Students learn the C major triad in two different areas of the keyboard. A rhythm chant is also used with words alongside a marching background rhythm, which enable students to play in the rhythm using the triad. Multi-tracking enables students to produce multi-layered fanfares.

A publisher format worksheet designed for use with any music software or integrated live performers and backing tracks. Suitable for year 8 and above. Students learn to perform a simple nursery, which is scalic and in simple ternary form. This enables students to perform the music quickly. This would suit the next stage of variations composition. Different combinations are suggested to provide a coherent and flowing set of variations, which can be re-ordered according to the student’s wish. Simple to more complex changes to the original are suggested, which lead to students creating their own changes. An appendix is provided to enable students to use the three main chords of I, IV and V for a ‘fill’ and bass part.

This is a Guide to Tuition for parents that can be used as a detailed template for your school, providing good processes and procedures to benefit music at a school and to increase it’s profile with parents. A booklet which is easily edited to tweak to the needs over your own department. The booklet outlines procedures and processes necessary to run an efficient music department and to raise the profile of its provision to parents. It is recommended the booklet is given out to students receiving or just starting lessons, which supports a fluid and efficient tuition system and obtain the “rubber stamp” of the senior leadership team to make it an effective system.

In Publisher Format to kick start a composition lesson to develop Reggae pieces using simple rhythms and pitch patterns

A complete Year 8 Scheme of Work for Music - National Curriculum with end of term milestone assessments. Complete lesson plans for the year, which include references to cross-curricular themes, PLTS, special needs provision, G&T and many other necessary provisions. Detailed enough to satisfy the most fussy of Ofsted inspectors!

"This is a really well collated resource and has been put together coherently and thoughtfully. Wonderful!" Complete Scheme of Work for music complete with detailed lesson plans for year 7 students and milestone assessments for the end of each term. Wide, varied and broad musical curriculum suitable for all abilities displaying a balance of world music, contemporary music and idiomatic music of the British Isles. This scheme of work is exhaustive, that even an Ofsted inspector will be impressed with the level of detail! Extensive cross-curricular, PLTS and many other links highlighted to show you are addressing all the issues in education today. Set assessments included as a resource.