To celebrate its tenth anniversary, BBC Ten Pieces launched a new set of classroom teaching resources on 15 October complementing its selection of works for 2024/25.
The teaching resources are for Key Stage 2 in England and Northern Ireland, Progression Step 3 in Wales and Second Level in Scotland, and include:
- Filmed performances of BBC Orchestras and BBC Singers performing the music
- Short films introducing the music and its composer
- Orchestral and vocal arrangements for varied levels of ability
- Curriculum-linked classroom activities and inclusive resources
In addition to the resources on the BBC Teach website, the BBC Orchestras and Singers are touring the UK with a programme of live educational workshops and performances for children.
For the first time, the ten works are all by women: Sally Beamish, Hildegard von Bingen, Margaret Bonds, Lili Boulanger, Reena Esmail, Cassie Kinoshi, Marianna Martines, Laura Shigihara, Errollyn Wallen and Judith Weir (see May 2024 issue).
On 9 October, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra gave two short Concerts for Schools at the Aviva Studios in Manchester, including two of the Ten Pieces: Laura Shigihara’s Grasswalk from the game Plants vs Zombies, and Montgomery Variations composed by Margaret Bonds in response to the American Civil Rights Movement and telling the story of what it means to stand up for your beliefs.
- bbc.co.uk/teach/ten-pieces
- BBC Ten Pieces Concerts for Schools: factoryinternational.org/whats-on/bbc-philharmonic-present-ten-pieces
- Women’s History Month (March 2024 issue): musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/features/womens-history-month-celebrating-composers
