Looking for music resources for secondary music classes that have been tried and tested in the classroom? With 25+ years of experience teaching in secondary schools in the UK and internationally, I am deeply passionate about music and drama education.
Looking for music resources for secondary music classes that have been tried and tested in the classroom? With 25+ years of experience teaching in secondary schools in the UK and internationally, I am deeply passionate about music and drama education.
Christmas Music Activities Bundle for Secondary Music Classes
In this holiday bundle you will find a wealth of different resources that are perfect for KS3 and KS4 music classes.
Christmas resources include powerpoints, worksheets, games and more. There is plenty of opportunity for listening, composing and performing.
All resources have been used and taught in the classroom and cater for a variety of different musical abilities.
Classical music worksheet - comparing two pieces by Chopin. This is a great introduction lesson to the Romantic composer Chopin. It’s a chance to learn how to compare two contrasting pieces (easily accessible on streaming music sites - Raindrop Prelude and Minute Waltz). This single lesson activity will work perfectly for class lessons, homework or a cover lesson.
The worksheet starts with some basic historical facts about Chopin and simple comprehension questions.
Then there is a comparison question where students listen to Raindrop Prelude and Minute Waltz. These pieces are easily found on streaming music sites. Students will describe the musical features of both pieces and then look for similarities. This is a great opportunity to develop understanding of musical elements and lead to class discussion work about the music that they are listening to.
This worksheet links with the Middle School Music Curriculum that is available to purchase on Passionate About Music Education page.
**Concert review self-reflection worksheet for music / band / choir classes. **
This 2 page worksheet was created to help students start to think and self-reflect on their performance in a concert.
On the first page students self evaluate their preparation and performance in the concert. They give themselves a mark out of 4. There are 11 questions to answer.
On the second page students answer in more detail simple self-reflection questions about the concert and are encouraged to review what they enjoyed, learned and need to develop in preparation for the next concert performance.
This is an editable 2 page worksheet. It can be used as a homework task, classroom activity or for a sub lesson.
Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century classical music listening and project worksheets.
This is perfect for KS3 / middle & KS4 / high school music classes.
Each worksheet explores a different period of classical music and will make a great one-off lesson, homework task, cover lesson or could even be expanded into a longer class project.
Each worksheet has an opportunity for students to complete initial individual research of the specific genre of music.
There is a listening exercise that expands upon the historical / context already learnt by the students.
Each worksheet finishes with the opportunity for independent project work where students can pick a task from the list and use it as a final assessment piece that can be assessed by the teacher. Students will have the flexibility in how they present the work for assessment making this a great student-led project.
COVER WORK BUNDLE for secondary MUSIC classes
Stuck for cover work that is suitable for a cover teacher to teach?
In this bundle you will find a wealth of different resources that are perfect for middle and high school general music classes.
Resources include powerpoints, worksheets and more.
Topics include listening exercises, music theory, quizzes, programme music and pop history as a starting point.
All resources have been used and taught in the classroom and cater for a variety of different musical abilities.
Pitch and stave note name development.
Note naming worksheet where every bar spells out a word.
Perfect for a starter activity, homework or cover lesson activity.
Musical elements dynamic terms quiz powerpoint for KS3 and KS4 music
There are 50 questions focusing specifically on dynamics that have been broken into 5 sets of 10 questions.
This gives you the option to decide whether you want to use each section separately as a fun starter activity or complete the whole powerpoint in one go.
You can have students working individually, in pairs or in groups to answer the questions. This gives you the ability to adapt the quiz to meet your specific classroom set up.
This powerpoint can work as a sub lesson with a non-specialist as the answers are at the end of each section.
Dynamics covered:
Italian names
Dynamics symbols
English terms
Reading dynamics from a score - Beethoven and Chopin piano pieces
Quick Music Technology project for KS3 and KS4 music classes
This is one worksheet that comes from a series of 10. The bundle can be purchased separately on the shop page.
Each worksheet explores a different genre and styles of music and will make a great one-off lesson, homework task, cover work or could even be expanded into a longer class project.
Each worksheet has an opportunity for students to complete initial individual research of the specific genre of music.
There is a listening exercise that expands upon the historical and musical context already learnt by the students.
Each worksheet finishes with the opportunity for independent project work where students can pick a task from the list and use it as a final assessment piece that can be assessed by the teacher. Students will have the flexibility in how they present the work for assessment making this a great student-led project.
This task is linked to Year 3 module 1 of the middle school curriculum (Pop Music).
Worksheet 1 - Rhythm Reading exercises for secondary school music classrooms.
This is a single worksheet focusing on developing rhythm reading and can be used in any classroom or ensemble setting.
Worksheet 1 - 4/4 time signature. Basic beat values and rests - minims, crotchets and quavers (half, quarter and eighth notes).
Each worksheet has 12 patterns. Each 1 bar rhythm pattern is written for 3 bars with a bar for resting and breathing. This gives students a chance to look ahead at the next line.
By playing the same pattern for 3 bars it allows students a chance to master that rhythm pattern before going onto a new pattern. It’s perfect for beginner students to focus on rhythm accuracy, separate from reading pitch. I have used this method for many years as a warm up exercise for my ensembles and general music classes.
The task can be used as warm up activities, a starting point for composing, homework exercises and rhythm reading assessments.
There is a complete series of 10 that is also available on my store.
There are play-along recordings of each worksheet on my Youtube channel - Music Theory Made Simple that can be used in the classroom.
After finding myself in a number of different classroom setting this year, I wanted to create a resource that could be applied in the choral, general music, band and orchestra rooms. It comes as no surprise to us that students struggle with rhythm as a majority of our students focus most of their attention on pitch.
I have created a STUDENT FRIENDLY BOOK for printing that accompanies the teacher handbook which is also for sale on the site.
Each of the 10 worksheets comes with a new rhythmic challenge.
Worksheet 1 - 4/4 time signature. Basic beat values and rests - minims, crotchets and quavers
Worksheet 2 - 4/4 time signature. Dotted rhythms
Worksheet 3 - 3/4 time signature. Dotted rhythms
Worksheet 4 - 2/4 time signature. Triplets and semiquavers
Worksheet 5 - 6/8 time signature. Dotted rhythms and semiquavers
Worksheet 6 - 9/8 time signature. Quaver rests
Worksheet 7 - 4/4 time signature. Triplets, semiquavers, quaver rests
Worksheet 8 - 5/4 time signature. Irregular time signature
Worksheet 9 - 4/4 time signature. Triplets, semiquavers and rests
Worksheet 10 - 4/4 time signature. More complex rhythm patterns and ties.
For each worksheet there are 12 lines. Each 1 bar rhythm pattern is written for 3 bars with a bar for resting and breathing.This gives students a chance to look ahead at the next line.
By playing the same pattern for 3 bars it allows students a chance to master that rhythm pattern before going onto a new pattern. It’s perfect for beginner students to focus on rhythm accuracy, separate from reading pitch. I have used this method for many years as a warm up exercise for my ensembles and general music classes.
There are play-along recordings of each worksheet on my Youtube channel - Music Theory Made Simple that can be used in the classroom or as homework practice tools.
Worksheet 13 - Rhythm Reading exercises for KS3 & KS4 music classrooms
This is a single worksheet focusing on developing rhythm reading and can be used in any classroom or ensemble setting.
Worksheet 13 - 6/8 time signature. Simple rhythm patterns.
Each worksheet has 12 patterns. Each 1 bar rhythm pattern is written for 3 bars with a bar for resting and breathing. This gives students a chance to look ahead at the next line.
By playing the same pattern for 3 bars it allows students a chance to master that rhythm pattern before going onto a new pattern. It’s perfect for beginner students to focus on rhythm accuracy, separate from reading pitch. I have used this method for many years as a warm up exercise for my ensembles and general music classes.
The task can be used as warm up activities, a starting point for composing, homework exercises and rhythm reading assessments.
There is a complete series of 10 in book 2 that is also available on my store.
There are play-along recordings of each worksheet on my Youtube channel - Music Theory Made Simple that can be used in the classroom.
5 treble clef pitch identification worksheets for music classes
A set of 5 treble clef pitch identification worksheets where every bar spells out a word. Each sheet is in a different colour.
A fun resource that is perfect for a starter activity, homework assignment or cover lesson activity.
This is one worksheet that comes from a series of 10. The bundle can be purchased separately on the shop page.
Each worksheet explores a different genre and styles of music and will make a great one-off lesson, homework task, cover work or could even be expanded into a longer class project.
Each worksheet has an opportunity for students to complete initial individual research of the specific genre of music.
There is a listening exercise that expands upon the historical and musical context already learnt by the students.
Each worksheet finishes with the opportunity for independent project work where students can pick a task from the list and use it as a final assessment piece that can be assessed by the teacher. Students will have the flexibility in how they present the work for assessment making this a great student-led project.
Looking for a fun starter? Here is an instrument identification game / quiz that can be played by all ages. It also includes some non-western traditional instruments.
Can be played as individuals, pairs and small groups.
A great starter activity for Christmas time. Students to identify what sacred or secular Christmas song the lyrics are from.
Students can work alone, in pairs or small groups. A great game for all ages.
This is the 4th lesson in a series for learning the Blues.
This lesson focuses on combining the walking bass line and the chord sequence.
It has been designed for google classroom but can be adapted for any platform.