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.
Fun music theory activity based on the lullaby - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Are you looking for a fun way to introduce or develop music theory whilst working remotely or away from your classroom?
This fun worksheet encourages basic understanding of music theory, note naming and how to apply it to a piano / tuned percussion or their own instrument.
Students can then use the music theory sheet to play or sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on an instrument of their choice either in class or at home.
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This is an introduction activity that celebrates Black Female Artists in Pop History.
Students pick two artists of their choice to complete some research about their lives and careers.
Students then pick a song by each artist. They are to analyse and compare the two songs and look for what both songs have in common.
This is an ideal lesson for remote learning, cover work or teaching in a non-specialist music room.
It links with the Middle School Curriculum topic 3, unit 1 (pop history) which is available to purchase on Passionate About Music Education TES page.
Don’t forget to follow to get notification of new resources being published.
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).
Quick Film Music project for KS3 or KS4 music students
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.
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 the third lesson in a series for learning the Blues.
This lesson focuses on the walking bass line.
The powerpoint has been designed for google classroom but can be adapted for other platforms.
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.
Fun Music project - what is your favorite album?
This is a chance for students to share their favourite album or song as a mini-project. It will require students to focus on listening, appraising and understanding musical genres, styles and historical context.
Students are given the opportunity to present their research through a variety of software platforms that work for your school.
This is a great task for creating a class play list of music, as well as getting to know the students and encouraging self-expression through music. A great project for team-building and peer relationships throughout the school year.
This powerpoint is the first in a series of lessons exploring SCALES.
Students will get to explore and learn modes and the Dorian scale. The powerpoint has links to relevant online music recordings, facts, diagrams and allows students to explore the scale, performance pieces and composing. Includes homework / extension tasks.
The powerpoint can also be used as a starting point for practical work or a composition task based around this mode.
This powerpoint links with the Year 2 topic 1 (Scales) of the Middle School Curriculum that is for sale. However, this lesson will work perfectly for High School students or any ensembles learning pieces centered around modes.
This worksheet will work perfectly with the the second in a series of lessons exploring SCALES. (powerpoint unit is for sale separately and you can buy all the worksheets as a bundle).
This worksheet is for composing melodies around the C major scale. Students have space to write in rough, write notation and if time can be transferred on to music software.
These resources links with the Year 2 topic 1 (Scales) of the Middle School Music Curriculum that is for sale.
Also, this lesson will work perfectly for High School students or any ensembles learning pieces based around scales.
This powerpoint is the first in a series of lessons exploring music history - Big Band Music of the 1930s - 1940s!
The powerpoint has links to relevant online music recordings, facts, diagrams and allows students to explore the instruments of the big band and the 32 bar song structure. It culminates in a personal research project.
The powerpoint can also be used as a starting point for practical work or a composition task based around this musical time frame.
This powerpoint links with the Year 3 topic 1 (Popular Music) of the Middle School Curriculum that is for sale. However, this lesson will work perfectly for High School students.
This worksheet will work perfectly with the the second in a series of lessons exploring SCALES. (powerpoint unit is for sale separately and you can buy all the worksheets as a bundle).
This worksheet is for composing melodies around the pentatonic scale. Students have space to write in rough, write notation and if time can be transferred on to music software.
These resources links with the Year 2 topic 1 (Scales) of the Middle School Music Curriculum that is for sale.
Also, this lesson will work perfectly for High School students or any ensembles learning pieces based around scales.
This is a great powerpoint resource for introducing students to music from African cultures.
The powerpoint includes video links to traditional instruments and musical terms. Students have the opportunity to learn a traditional folk song and then use it as a basis for a composition task.
Links with Year 2 topic 3 from the Middle School music curriculum that is for sale.
A great introduction resource for students taking GCSE and IB music.
Fun music composing task - exploring the A Minor Scale
This was created for music lessons being taught outside of the music room with limited access to instruments!
The activities include an introduction to the A Minor Scale (there is an opportunity to bring listening work into this), identifying the A Minor Scale on a keyboard and stave notation. Writing 3 simple A Minor Scale scale pieces using a given rhythm.
Students could input their composition onto music software or play on virtual instruments if you have no access to classroom instruments. The practical task is also set up so students can use real instruments at home or in the classroom, sing the song, or use virtual instruments.
This unit links with Year 2, topic 1 (Scales) of the Middle School Music curriculum that is for sale on this TES page.
For more music lesson resources make sure you follow Passionate About Music Education TES page!
This is an introduction activity that celebrates Black Male artists from Pop, Jazz and Blues music history. It is perfect for KS3 music classes.
Students pick two artists of their choice to complete some research about their lives and careers.
Students then pick a song by each artist. They are to analyze and compare the two songs and look for what both songs have in common.
This is an ideal lesson for remote learning, cover work or teaching in a non-specialist music room.
It links with the Middle School Curriculum topic 3, unit 1 (pop history) which is available to purchase on Passionate About Music Education TES page.
Don’t forget to follow to get notification of new resources being published.
Instruments quiz powerpoint for KS3 and KS4 music classes
There are 50 questions focusing specifically on musical instruments that have been broken into 5 sets of 10 questions.
This gives you the option to decide whether you want to use each of the 5 sections separately as a fun starter activity or complete the whole powerpoint in one go.
Students can work 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.
Instruments covered:
Orchestral traditional instruments
Vocal and pop music instruments
World music instruments
A fun, quick game which is perfect as a starter or plenary.
Students need to spot the odd one out - instruments, composers and musical terms.
This game can easily be played individually or in teams.
15 fun questions to answer. A great ice-breaker game.
This is a great pitch identification game you can play with the class as a warm-up game or activity.
The powerpoint has 10 different pitches for students to identify. Students have access to a worksheet with all the pitches. It’s best if the worksheet is placed in an individual plastic wallet to make the worksheet re-usable for many classes.
Display the first pitch and count down 3,2,1 and ask students to hold up the sheet pointing to the correct answer. This way you can visually see who understands the task with the correct answer and allows you to instantly fill gaps of mis-understanding about notes on the stave.
This powerpoint is the first in a series of lessons exploring music history - 1920s!
Students will get to explore and learn the Blues and then compare it to Minimalistic music. The powerpoint has links to relevant online music recordings, facts, diagrams and allows students to explore the blues scale, chromatic scale, tone rows and composing.
The powerpoint can also be used as a starting point for practical work or a composition task based around this musical time frame.
This powerpoint links with the Year 3 topic 1 (Popular Music) of the Middle School Curriculum that is for sale. However, this lesson will work perfectly for High School students.
This powerpoint is the second in a series of lessons exploring SCALES. It walks students through major, minor and pentatonic scales.
The resource has links to relevant online music recordings, facts, diagrams and allows students to explore the scales and has easy to follow compositions tasks.
This powerpoint links with the Year 2 topic 1 (Scales) of the Middle School Music Curriculum that is for sale. Worksheets for each scale are available to purchase separately.
Also, this lesson will work perfectly for High School students or any ensembles learning pieces based around scales.