Composers reading passages with questions

Finding engaging, relevant written work for a music class can be a challenge! Sometimes we all need no prep, print-and-go quiet activities for our music classroom. Ideal for cover/sub plans, homework or written work, each worksheet in this set of 10 includes a reading passage on a classical composer and ten associated questions. These written activities can be used with a range of classes and a non-specialist teacher.

Composers included:
Isaac Albéniz
Ludwig van Beethoven
Hildegard von Bingen
Claude Debussy
Scott Joplin
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Henry Purcell
Clara Schumann
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Antonio Vivaldi

Tell me more!
The worksheets can be printed or assigned digitally, with students answering on blank paper/document so the printed sheets can be reused. Easy printing in grayscale and on A4 or letter size paper.

The reading comprehension passages have been carefully crafted for a 10-12 year old reading level. Care has been taken to use dyslexia-friendly font, font size 14+ and 1.5 line spacing to allow easy reading for all students.

The questions range from simple fact-finding to more reflective and thought-provoking - see the preview for more details.

The worksheets require no prior knowledge and no teacher input so they can be used with a wide range of classes and abilities, students can work independently with no technology requirements, and they are ideal to leave for a non-specialist substitute teacher.

I keep some printed in my classroom for emergency teacher absences. I have also used it during displaced classes when we have no access to instruments, as make-up work for students opting out of the curriculum or a concert, as homework, and to supplement a unit on Classical composers.

I hate when classical music resources only include white male composers, so the range of classical composers have been chosen to include female composers and better reflect your diverse classroom.

Each worksheet usually lasts a lesson but if you have more able or older students, or longer periods, you might want to use two per lesson, or add in a classroom game to fill up the end of the lesson!