Simple resources designed to be used by a non-specialist when covering music lessons.
Designed for Key Stage 3 classes but could by used with KS2 or KS4 if appropriate.
This is a student's step by step guide to composing in ternary form. It can be used with classes or as an independent study guide for students. This workbook also includes notation basics to help students with the theory of composing using notation.
I initially wrote this booklet to help with students at GCSE level who were struggling to get started with composition. However, it could be useful for more able students at Key Stage 3. The 15 page workbook contents:
Notation basics – Pitch
Notation basics – Rhythm
What is Ternary Form?
Composing the A Section
Composing your own A Section
Composing the B Section
Composing your own B Section
Chords
Adding chords to your melody
Cadences
The return of the A Section
Extending your piece further
This is a 2 page worksheet with some tips and guidance for students on how to compose a simple cadenza. I wrote this to cover some aspects of the 'Concerto through time' area of study for OCR GCSE Music but it could also be used for KS5 classes. I use it as a composing and performance activity for GCSE Music.
The worksheet takes a brief look at cadenzas and then sets out some techniques that could be used for students to write their own. The worksheet looks at sequences, repetition, chromatic passages, interval expansion, dynamics, tempo and articulations.
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Any feedback would be greatly received. Let me know how you get on with them and I welcome any suggestions for improvements.
These are piano roll bingo cards complete with audio recordings (MP3s). There are 16 unique bingo cards (1 per page in a PDF document). Each bingo card has 16 small piano roll notations on it and the pack comes with 16 audio recordings of the music featured on the cards.
This is a great activity for KS3 and KS4 classes and work particularity well when teaching students about piano rolls, notation or the musical elements. This is also a useful activity for introducing students to notation used on software packages such as Garageband, Logic or Cubase. Useful as as a starter or plenary activity or even as a starting point for a whole lesson.
Simply print off the bingo cards, hand out to students (I get students to work in pairs), select the audio files at random and let the students work out which piano roll best fits what they are hearing. Each audio file has a four click intro and then the two bar piano part. Make your own rules for bingo or have students come up with their own. Simply laminate them to use them time and time again.
You can also use the cards as a performing activity before hearing the audio files. Ask students to try and work out what the piano rolls will sound like using their voice or an instrument.
As a composing activity, there is a blank card that you can get students to compose their own ideas and create their own piano roll.
Any feedback would be greatly received. Let me know how you got on with it and I welcome any suggestions for improvements.
Rhyhtm Builder activity
This is an activity designed for KS3 but could also be used for students in KS2 and at GCSE level. Simply print off the templates and cut out the rhythms to give students an easy way to compose rhythms in 2,3,4 and 5 time.
The rhythm shapes are set so students should be able to compose accurate rhythms simply by making sure each line is filled with out any overlapping of the shapes.
Great for getting students composing rhythms.
This is a GCSE Music Composition Annotation Help Sheet for students who compose in non-standard notation.
Most exam boards require annotations for composition work when there isn’t a traditional score.