This unit of work is designed to introduce A Level Music Technology students to synthesisers, collecting together technical terminology and ensuring they understand a range of synth modules, parameters and control methods. This is relevant to AS and A2 students, but includes content particularly relevant to the A2 exam.

PowerPoint and associated resources designed to introduce the idea of using processors to control dynamics of tracks. Discussion of noise gating, compression and limiting, along with key terminology and graphs. Note: An issue was identified with some graph labels in this resource. This has now been resolved and apologies for any inconvenience.

Two inputting activities to build skills in inputting information from a score. Simple exercises - Somewhere Over The Rainbow and Ode To Joy. Arguably not massively appealing to Y12 but quite well known and I've had some impressive arrangements produced.

Graphics produced of various pieces of music technology equipment; deliberately unfamiliar so students have to apply the knowledge gained during their work on Unit 4 for Edexcel Music Technology A Level. The pieces of equipment included are: Tape Delay Unit Analogue Synth LFO Distortion Pedal Plate Reverb Spring Reverb Digital Reverb Graphic EQ Parametric EQ Compressor Limiter Gate

Originally designed for Edexcel A Level but suitable for all boards and all composition work. Suggested prompts to help with teacher feedback for composition, or could conceivably be used for peer feedback too.

Ideas sheet to give students a starting point for creating lyrics. Uses 'A Day In The Life' as an example and includes brief information on the 'cut up' and 'fold in' methods used by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

Introduction to major, minor and chromatic scales based around the sea and composition for different 'atmospheres' and settings.

Focusing on composition of a polyrhythm, identification of specific drums and brief consideration of phase shifting.

Introduction to using a circle of fifths to work out key relations and key signatures.

Prompt sheet discussing quantisation and quantise resolution with a prompt for notation and rhythm values.

Guide and directed task working through using the Logic Piano Roll to input MIDI information.

This checklist considers strategies students and teachers can use to improve their composition work. It uses simple musical terminology to encourage students to extend their writing, and thus enables teachers to use this as a partial assessment framework. Whilst it would not be advisable to use this as a sole resource as to assess student compositions, it does enable a framework to be put in place where students' work is extended and they can build independent learning skills by going through this process using self or peer assessment by which to consolidate their understanding of the principles and processes. A brief explanatory PowerPoint and reflection sheet is included to help students reflect on the processes discussed and how they could be applied and put in place.

A pack containing four questions to help students apply their practical knowledge to theoretical concepts. Questions, indicative content model answers and PowerPoint slides are included for the following four topics: Drum Machines Compression Modulation Effects EQ Please note that the model answers are meant only to provide exemplar information; teachers should always apply their practical and theoretical music technology knowledge in their assessment and for mark allocations.

This unit of work is designed to introduce A Level Music Technology students to samplers, collecting together technical terminology and ensuring they understand a range of sampling specifications, uses and applications of samplers and sample manipulation. This is relevant to AS and A2 students, but includes content particularly relevant to the A2 exam.

Full breakdown of content as a PDF and editable Word document for each Area of Study on the 2017 specification. Useful to plan out schemes of work and identify appropriate resources / curriculum planning. This covers practical and theoretical content across all four A Level components - Component 1; Recording, Component 2; Composition, Component 3; Listening and Analysing, Component 4; Analysing and Producing.

PowerPoint, Key Words sheet and Handout associated with the basics of sound. Topics covered include frequency and amplitude, waveforms and phase. Any image sources are identified in slide notes.

These sheets and lesson resources prepare students for their Music Technology recording projects. Included resources are: A session log which enables students to keep track of any issues they encounter and recall microphone technical information and placement details. Ambient recording worksheet and presentation; to recall microphone configurations that can be used to record larger ensembles and improve clarity of capture. Recording capture guidance worksheet; a recap of commonly used close microphone configurations. Recording problems worksheet to allow students to work to identify potential issues with recording and discuss how they would use DAW technology to solve them.

A brief guide to Music Technology for students studying GCSE and A Level Music.

Grid for A1/Year 12 Music Tech students to reinforce definitions from early in the course.

Help with identifying eras and citing appropriate composers depending on the musical features aurally identified.