This is all the teaching materials I use to teach Section C: Contextual Understanding of the A-Level exam. I focus on AOS4 for this portion of the exam specifically, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Stephen Sondheim. This resource comes with the analysis of three pieces of music by each composer: Sondheim: Ballad of Sweeney Todd and Worst Pies in London from Sweeney Todd and Giants in the Sky from Into the Woods. (Giants in the Sky is not annotated as this is something that I get students to do independently with guidance, the score is there though). Schönberg: One Day More and Master of the House from Les Miserables and I’d Give My Life for You from Miss Saigon. In addition to this analysis you will also get some example essays (one only focussed on Sondheim as this is what I focus on in year 12). The synopsis for the shows are also included.

I have created this scheme of work as a whole term scheme for year 9 students who have already completed their options. It gives them some flexibility and choice over the music that they engage with and requires the department to have keyboards and sibelius/cubase. Included in this is: a topic outline via a powerpoint (this is designed for minimal use during lesson as most of the time will be spent ‘doing’). Some free sheet music but also some sibelius (7) files and cubase files both composition starter materials and arrangements of pieces of music for students to then arrange.

This is some revision materials for all three eras of concerto as well as an end of unit assessment with answers and listening tracks to cover all concerto types suitable for OCR music.

This is 2/3 lessons on the Baroque Solo concerto, it is assumed that this is the first topic in the AOS taught. It covers the key features, listening/analysis practice and common exam questions.

This is the assessment that I have created based on the resources published by Eduqas. Unlike the actual exam, it features multiple sections to test the individual sections of the song so as to really gain a clear picture of their understanding. Because of this, I play them the whole song three times throughout the exam rather than the specific sections but you could easily do it this way if you wish. The test works through each section linearly and lasts around 45 minutes. PDF and word versions have been uploaded as have the answers.

This is a performance project I’m doing with year 7 this half term, it involves getting them listening actively by going with the elements and a performance (on any instrument/voice/app of their choice) of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’. Currently it’s geared up for google suite, for example it says things like “upload your answers to google classroom” but this is easily adaptable for your softwares. I teach this live on google meet and share the PowerPoint with the students but it could be done entirely remotely. All scores/backing tracks for a variety of instruments/levels are included. Nb. If you have purchased my distance learning ‘musical theatre’ for KS3 then it’s a reworked version of that without the musical theatre focus so probably not worth a second purchase!

This is music in advertising project I’m doing with year 8 and 9 this half term. involves them designing a product and creating a radio advert for the product to include an underscore, jingle and voiceover. Currently it’s geared up for google suite, for example it says things like “upload your answers to google classroom” but this is easily adaptable for your softwares. I teach this live on google meet and share the PowerPoint with the students but it could be done entirely remotely. As students are doing it remotely I’m allowing them to do it with any software they may have access to, or on an instrument or using BandLab education online. I’ve included links for how to use GarageBand and BandLab to support students.

This is 2/3 (depending how long you spend on the activities) lessons on AOS2: The Concerto Through Time Romantic Concertos. There are listening activities embedded within this as well as a short listening test. This has been planned as if this is the final topic studied within the AOS.

Here are 7 worksheets that I use to introduce A level music students to chorales and harmony, the answers rely upon teacher knowledge. I have also included my rules sheet that I give to students to refer to during the chorale writing process.

This is a scheme of work I use with year 9. It introduces them to reggae and African a capella singing through practical activities. It then moves onto a larger project for the rest of the half term.

This is an entire unit of work aimed at year 9 students. It involves product design, marketing research and pitching as well as creating a radio advert (the key musical aim). This has key terminology, practical activity and homework.

Arrangement of Power (Little Mix) It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for voice, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of Carol of the Bells. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for flute, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, saxophones and piano but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of Hey Soul Sister (it’s missing the bridge but the rest of the song is there). There’s a Sibelius 8.1 and Sibelius 6 verison. It’s currently for voice, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

This is the set of resources I used for teaching the Minimalist music of Adams, Reich and Riley. It covers some of their most notable works and discusses key vocabulary. It usually takes me two lessons to get through, there are listening links embedded within the star symbols.

This is a composition mini project centered around melody, it is not board specific. The composition is designed as a pre-cursor to free composition focused on melody as a starting point through using students names. It explores the Liszt BACH and Shostakovich name motifs. The whole project is individual so can be either done quickly in 3 lessons or extended over a longer period of time. There are audio links embedded within the star symbols.

This is a composition mini project centered around rhythm, it is not board specific. The composition is designed as a pre-cursor to free composition focused on rhythm as a starting point through using morse code. The whole project has three main group tasks so can be either done quickly in 3 lessons or extended over a longer period of time. There are audio links embedded within the star symbols.

This is a composition mini project centered around timbre and texture, it is not board specific. The composition is designed as a pre-cursor to free composition focused on using DAW software (in this instance FL studio) specifically video game music. The whole project is individual so can be either done quickly in 3 lessons or extended over a longer period of time. There are audio links embedded within the star symbols.

This is my free composition launch presentation and planning document. It goes through the requirements for composition, the criteria, an example of the log and ideas for getting started. I have also included the planning document, students plan their composition and then keep their plan with them updating it regularly as lessons progress.

This is a full introduction to composition for the AQA GCSE music course however it can be easily adapted for any exam board. It covers what is required for the composition component of the course as well as the fundamentals of composition, some homework and a mini-composition task to help students understand ‘how to’ compose. Any star symbols have a sound link to them and there are some videos embeded in the powerpoint.