Music Teacher - BBC Ten Pieces releases new collection of works by women

The new classroom resources - available from 15 October - mark the BBC project's tenth anniversary, featuring works by Sally Beamish, Hildegard von Bingen, Errollyn Wallen and others

Two BBC Philharmonic Schools' Concerts will be given on 9 October in Manchester - Chris Payne / BBC

To celebrate its tenth anniversary, BBC Ten Pieces is launching a new set of classroom resources featuring works by ten women composers.

The teaching resources (for KS 2 in England, Progression Step 3 in Wales and Second Level in Scotland) will 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 will tour 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 is giving two short Concerts for Schools, including two of the works: 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. The concerts will take place from 11–12 noon, and from 1.30–2.30pm at the Aviva Studios in Manchester. All tickets are £5; to book an educational group of 10 or more, call 0161 817 4531 or email groups@factoryinternational.org.