Carisse is an experienced teacher of A-level Music and Vocational Music, and is currently Head of Music at a sixth form college in the North West of England. She has examining experience in A-level Music, specifically for coursework and specialises professionally in both performance and music analysis. Carisse has also been a Subject Advisor for Pearson, examining for both the NQF Level 1/2 BTEC Award in Music and the QCF Level 3 BTEC in Music.
Carisse is an experienced teacher of A-level Music and Vocational Music, and is currently Head of Music at a sixth form college in the North West of England. She has examining experience in A-level Music, specifically for coursework and specialises professionally in both performance and music analysis. Carisse has also been a Subject Advisor for Pearson, examining for both the NQF Level 1/2 BTEC Award in Music and the QCF Level 3 BTEC in Music.
A sample question as part of the Eduqas Unit 3 A-level Music specification. Two versions of “How Will I Know” - Whitney Houston and Sam Smith. Original 80s Hip-Hop Ballad vs. Slow Ballad cover.
A resource that uses the documentary “Hitsville: The Making of Motown”. Set of research questions for students to answer whilst watching the documentary. Answers for teachers also provided. Good as an introduction to Motown Soul and generally how the Music Industry works too. Takes around 3-4 hours minimum as a mini-project: 2-3 hours to watch and make notes, 1-2 hours as a class discussion.
Could be used for BTEC Music (Unit 30 Pop Music in Practise) or A’level Music.
x4 mini-projects that could be used for A’level Music or BTEC Music.
50s Rock ‘n’ Roll
60s Psychedelic Rock
Motown Strand - 60s Soul, 70s Funk & Disco (including Stax)
70s Punk Rock
The Development of the Symphony (1750-1900). This resource is an insight into the relevance and importance of the Mannheim School in the development of the early Classical symphonic orchestral tradition. A set of research questions based around x3 video/audio resources (2 short videos and 1 short podcast). Teacher notes/answers provided. Can be used as an introductory task or as revision at GCSE, AS or A’level.
A revision powerpoint on Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, Movement 3. Complete with an overview of the main musical features of each section of the work and sample exam-style questions taken from past papers and sample materials. There is also a comparison with the minor study of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, Movement 3, including some exam-style questions.
Revision Summary Powerpoints on both Into the 21st Century Set Works:
Thomas Ades’ - Asyla - 3rd Movement Ecstasio
Sally Beamish’s Opus California - 1st movement - Boardwalk, 4th movement - Natural Bridges
Wider Context in relation to the 5-mark comparison question also included. Wider Context composers covered include Judith Weir, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Witold Lutoslawski, Kaija Saariaho and Toru Takemitsu.
A comprehensive unit of work on 1970s Disco (Flares, Escapism & Homophobia), looking at the historical & political context, as well as two track analyses on Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive (1978) and Boney M’s Rasputin (1978).
Resource consists of 3 separate powerpoints and a written assignment template. There is a suggested extenstion task, looking at a Minogue track from 2015 (no resources on this one).
Warning: there are some potentially triggering references linked to different socio-economic groups. Exploration of lyrical content throughout touches on some sensitive topics.
A comprehensive guide to 80s 2-Tone Reggae & Ska music, with specific focus on The Specials.
Track Analyses include: Ghost Town by The Specials and One in Ten by UB40.
Analysis focuses on main musical features and characteristics of 80s 2-Tone Reggae & Ska.
A suggested written, research/homework activity is also provided. All information is included in 1 powerpoint resource.
RSL Level 3 Creative Music Industry course. CMI303 Performing Music Live Criteria 1: Planning Workbook. Suggested activities across multiple practical projects, designed to be delivered throughout 1 academic year. Four booklets that include tasks with detailed guidance and examples as follows:
Booklet 1. C1.1a) Image Portrayal. Punk Project, including Mood Board, Justification & Stage Persona.
Booklet 2. C1.1b) Communication with other Musicians & Technical Staff. Disco Project, including Rehearsal Logs, Soundchecks, Communication Strategies, Audience Interaction & Ensemble Meetings.
Booklet 3. C1.1d) Promotion to an Intended Audience. Solo Project, including Marketing Campaign Strategies & Promotional Strategies.
Booklet 4. C1.1b) Selection & Preparation of Repertoire, C1.1e) Venue Type, C1.1f) Personal Equipment Selection. Covers Project, including Repertoire List, Justifications, Rehearsal Schedule, Venue Comparison, Risk Assessment, Fire Safety Medical & Crowd Control, Equipment List.
All tasks and dates can be fully edited to suit centre circumstances and learner needs.
A lesson originally used in a Music Department Taster event for Y10 and Y11 students (went down well across 160 students in 13 sessions). Recordings of songs mentioned are readily available on YouTube.
The session looks at the UK mainstream charts, focussing on No. 1s and analysing their musical features to assess the formula for what makes a “hit” track. It then hones in on a huge current trend that has been bubbling under the surface for a couple of years - country music (or rather “pseudo-country”).
A comprehensive guide to 80s Heavy Rock, with specific focus on Van Halen and Motorhead.
Track Analyses include: Jump by Van Halen and Ace of Spades by Motorhead.
Analysis focuses on main musical features and characteristics of 80s Heavy Rock, as well as the development of the electric guitar, iconic guitarists and evolution into 90s Grunge and Nu-Metal.
All information is included in 1 powerpoint resource. There is an accompanying set of questions that scaffold an extended response on how electric guitarists have influenceed the development of different styles of music from 1960-1990.
RSL CMI374 Music Artist & the Media: Unit Support
Suggested activities, structure and guidance powerpoint to support learners to produce a research presentation on how the media impacts music artists careers & reputations and how artists can use the media to their advantage.
Document can be fully edited to suit centre circumstances and learner needs.
An annotated score for Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, Movement I (Allegro Vivace). Useful for score analysis, understanding instrumentation, harmony/tonality, structure and textures. Set work on the Eduqas syllabus.
An A3 worksheet, set out in a table. Good revision tool or a summary of topic exercise. Allows students to compare the aspects of the 1st movements of both Haydn's Symphony No. 104 and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4. A useful scaffold for an essay.
Level 3 BTEC Music
A set of worksheets/templates to guide students through Criteria 1 (P1, M1, D1) for Unit 22 - Music Performance Session Styles. Covers x4 distinctly different genres (Rock ‘n’ Roll, Psychedelic Rock, Disco, Punk). Allows for cross-reference between other genres/styles for the D1 criteria.
A set of questions based around the analysis of selected rock & pop music tracks, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire, The Bee Gees, The Specials, Motorhead, Van Halen, Queen, Pink Floyd, Pet Shop Boys, Kate Bush and many others.
