Teaching Materials

Performance exams

Although I never again want my students to be judged and marked on how well they play a C sharp minor scale, or recognise a modulation, or sightread, I do feel that there is a need (as do most...

Teaching Materials

OCR A level AoS 1: Mozart Quintet for piano and wind

Mozart’s string quartets should not dismissed since comparisons between string writing, textures and dialogue will be interesting. As with all prescribed works, understanding Mozart’s (and his...

Teaching Materials

Getting ready for the GCSE music listening paper

For the first time since 2019, students taking GCSE music will be sitting a listening paper this year. The students currently in Year 11 have experienced major disruption over the last two years, so...

Teaching Materials

Wider listening activities for KS3, part 2

This is the second of a two-part resource providing ideas for a full scheme of listening starters for KS3: one lesson a week for three years. This resource will cover repertoire from the modern era,...

Teaching Materials

Cambridge IGCSE: Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4

In the IGCSE listening paper, the Western classical set work is found in Section D and is worth 16 marks (out of a total of 70 marks for the whole paper). In 2022, students will have the opportunity...

Teaching Materials

Teaching students with special needs

Most music teachers have little or no training in coping with and understanding various needs and how to adapt their teaching accordingly. In this resource, I will look at some of the common...

Instrumental & Vocal

Eduqas A level AoS A: the development of the symphony, part 1, 1750-c1830

This resource looks at the development of the symphony from 1750 to about 1830, including Haydn’s symphonies. A later resource will continue from 1830 and will include Mendelssohn.

Teaching Materials

Wider listening activities for KS3, part 1

This resource, and its sequel next month, will give you ideas on how to use wider listening examples as a ‘do now’ routine at the start of every KS3 lesson, including a repertoire list with enough on...

Teaching Materials

Cambridge IGCSE: Haydn’s Symphony No. 100 (Military)

In the IGCSE Listening paper, the Western classical set work is found in section D and is worth 16 marks (out of a total of 70 marks for the whole paper). In 2022, students will have the opportunity...

Teaching Materials

What age to begin instrumental lessons

What factors do we need to consider when starting instrumental lessons? Is there a benefit to starting as early as possible, or can it be counterproductive? Rather than benefiting from an early start,...

Teaching Materials

KS3 world tour: traditional music from the British Isles

After a two-year virtual tour right around the world, taking in the Caribbean (January 2020), South America (September 2020), China (December 2020), the Middle East (March 2021), West Africa (August...

Teaching Materials

Homework in the cloud using Noteflight

This resource will looks at ways of using Noteflight to set meaningful and creative homework for your students.

Teaching Materials