Carisse is an experienced teacher of A-level Music and Vocational Music, and is currently Head of Music at a sixth form college in the North West of England. She has examining experience in A-level Music, specifically for coursework and specialises professionally in both performance and music analysis. Carisse has also been a Subject Advisor for Pearson, examining for both the NQF Level 1/2 BTEC Award in Music and the QCF Level 3 BTEC in Music.
Carisse is an experienced teacher of A-level Music and Vocational Music, and is currently Head of Music at a sixth form college in the North West of England. She has examining experience in A-level Music, specifically for coursework and specialises professionally in both performance and music analysis. Carisse has also been a Subject Advisor for Pearson, examining for both the NQF Level 1/2 BTEC Award in Music and the QCF Level 3 BTEC in Music.
An analysis of Saariaho’s Petals for the 21st century topic on the Eduqas A’level Music specification. Close look at extended playing techniques for the cello and the use of technology, including harmoniser & reverb units. Discussion of the use of the spectralism style, harmony & tonality, rhythm & metre and graphical notation. Worksheet and teacher analysis. Recordings and scores can be freely found online.
RSL CMI374 Music Artist & the Media: Unit Support
Suggested activities, structure and guidance powerpoint to support learners to produce a research presentation on how the media impacts music artists careers & reputations and how artists can use the media to their advantage.
Document can be fully edited to suit centre circumstances and learner needs.
RSL CMI303/340/372 Evaluations Mini-Vlog Series Support.
Evaluation criteria knitted together across series of units as follows:
CMI303 Performing Music Live
CMI340 Composing Music (Styles)
CMI372 Music in Context
Mini-vlog series tasks involve guidance on the evaluation of ensemble performances, composition work and personal responses to genres. Genres covered in tasks are 50s Rock ‘n’ Roll, 70s Punk & 70s Disco.
Disco evaluation guidance edited to be a 1:1 interview for variety.
All tasks can be fully edited to suit centre circumstances and learner needs.
RSL CMI376 Music Instrument Development: Unit Support
Suggested activities, structure and guidance powerpoint to support learners to produce a research presentation on the history and development of the use of a chosen instrument or voice from 1950 to the present day.
Document can be fully edited to suit centre circumstances and learner needs.
A lesson originally used in a Music Department Taster event for Y10 and Y11 students (went down well across 160 students in 13 sessions). Recordings of songs mentioned are readily available on YouTube.
The session looks at the UK mainstream charts, focussing on No. 1s and analysing their musical features to assess the formula for what makes a “hit” track. It then hones in on a huge current trend that has been bubbling under the surface for a couple of years - country music (or rather “pseudo-country”).
RSL Level 3 Creative Music Industry course. CMI303 Performing Music Live Criteria 1: Planning Workbook. Suggested activities across multiple practical projects, designed to be delivered throughout 1 academic year. Four booklets that include tasks with detailed guidance and examples as follows:
Booklet 1. C1.1a) Image Portrayal. Punk Project, including Mood Board, Justification & Stage Persona.
Booklet 2. C1.1b) Communication with other Musicians & Technical Staff. Disco Project, including Rehearsal Logs, Soundchecks, Communication Strategies, Audience Interaction & Ensemble Meetings.
Booklet 3. C1.1d) Promotion to an Intended Audience. Solo Project, including Marketing Campaign Strategies & Promotional Strategies.
Booklet 4. C1.1b) Selection & Preparation of Repertoire, C1.1e) Venue Type, C1.1f) Personal Equipment Selection. Covers Project, including Repertoire List, Justifications, Rehearsal Schedule, Venue Comparison, Risk Assessment, Fire Safety Medical & Crowd Control, Equipment List.
All tasks and dates can be fully edited to suit centre circumstances and learner needs.
A five-page glossary of useful terminology for the study of Rock & Pop (Eduqas AS-level Music). A starting point and precursor research activity to the study of Rock & Pop music from the 1960s-1990s.
A sample question as part of the Eduqas Unit 3 A-level Music specification. Two versions of “How Will I Know” - Whitney Houston and Sam Smith. Original 80s Hip-Hop Ballad vs. Slow Ballad cover.
A selection of resources to aid with the teaching of the Rock & Pop topic on the Eduqas A-level. Resources include a detailed analytical powerpoint on a range of genres, three sample questions in the style of the A-level and some useful worksheets.
A resource that uses the documentary “Hitsville: The Making of Motown”. Set of research questions for students to answer whilst watching the documentary. Answers for teachers also provided. Good as an introduction to Motown Soul and generally how the Music Industry works too. Takes around 3-4 hours minimum as a mini-project: 2-3 hours to watch and make notes, 1-2 hours as a class discussion.
Could be used for BTEC Music (Unit 30 Pop Music in Practise) or A’level Music.
x4 mini-projects that could be used for A’level Music or BTEC Music.
50s Rock ‘n’ Roll
60s Psychedelic Rock
Motown Strand - 60s Soul, 70s Funk & Disco (including Stax)
70s Punk Rock
A resource that uses the documentary “The Story of Funk: One Nation Under A Groove”. Set of research questions for students to answer whilst watching the documentary. Answers for teachers also provided. Good as an introduction to the Funk genre and an insight into the pop culture and fusion of psychedelic rock with funk. Takes around 2-3 hours minimum as a mini-project: 1 hour to watch and make notes, 1 hour as a class discussion.
Could be used for BTEC Music (Unit 30 Pop Music in Practice) or A’level Music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rZagOjCnKQ
A resource that uses the BBC4 documentary “The Britpop Story - It Really, Really, Really Could Happen". Set of research questions for students to answer whilst watching the documentary. Answers for teachers also provided. Good as an introduction to Britpop genre and an insight into the pop culture and politics of the time. Takes around 1-2 hours minimum as a mini-project: 30 mins - 1 hour to watch and make notes, 1 hour as a class discussion.
Could be used for BTEC Music (Unit 30 Pop Music in Practise) or A’level Music.
A powerpoint looking at the historical context behind 70s British Punk, including discussion of musical features, stage presence, politics, iconic artists/tracks and the evolution into the 80s. Could be used as an overview, initial look at the topic, revision or for sparking conversation.
A comprehensive unit of work on 1970s British Punk (Politics, Protest & Pogoing), looking at the historical & political context, as well as two track analyses on The Clash’s White Riot (1977) and The Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen (1977). American Bubblgum Punk of the early 2000s (America, Angst & Alternative Dress) is then explored with a track analysis of Green Day’s American Idiot (2004), followed by a look at more recent UK Punk with references to Soft Play’s Punk’s Dead (2023).
Resource consists of 4 separate powerpoints and a written assignment template.
Warning: there are some potentially triggering references and images linked to 9/11. Exploration of lyrical content throughout touches on some sensitive topics. Quotes of lyrics reference explicit language.
An analysis of 90s Britpop, looking at the contextual information, musical features and iconics tracks of the genre. This would serve as a few lessons of introduction, listening and research. Powerpoint, with accompanying worksheet for students to make notes. Worksheet of research questions that accompanies the BBC4 Documentary “The Britpop Story”. Used for both vocational music (RSL Creative Music Industry course) and also A’level Music (Eduqas).
Eduqas A-level Music Rock & Pop Comparison Sample Question: "Jolene”. With suggested mark scheme. Original Country version compared with Synthpop cover version.
A selection of research questions for students to answer whilst watching the documentaries. Answers for teachers also provided. Topics include Funk, Motown, Punk & Britpop. Good as an introduction to each genre and an insight into the pop culture and history of rock/pop music. Can be completed separately as mini-projects, promoting independent research and possible classroom discussion (online or live).
Could be used for BTEC Music (Unit 30 Pop Music in Practice or Unit 22 Session Styles) or A’level Music.
A comprehensive guide to 80s Synthpop, with specific focus on Gary Numan, the Eurythmics and the Pet Shop Boys.
Track Analyses include: Cars by Gary Numan, Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics and Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money) by the Pet Shop Boys.
Analysis focuses on main musical features and characteristics of 80s Synthpop.
A suggested written, research/homework activity is also provided. All information is included in 1 powerpoint resource.
