Into the 21st Century (AoSF) - FIVE MARK QUESTION Support. A range of examples of content and how to formulate an answer for the 5-mark wider context question at the end of the unseen 21st century listening question on the A’level Music Eduqas paper.

A revision powerpoint on Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, Movement 4. 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 4, including some exam-style questions.

A powerpoint looking at the historical context behind 70s British Punk, including discussion of musical features, stage presence, politics, iconic artists/tracks and the evolution into the 80s. Could be used as an overview, initial look at the topic, revision or for sparking conversation.

A brief analysis of the use of programme, instrumentation, harmony & tonality and texture within Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre.

A comprehensive guide to 60s Psychedelic Rock, with specific focus on The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album with some comparison to The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request album. Both albums from 1968. Track Analyses include: A Day in the Life, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds & Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite by The Beatles, as well as 2000 Light Years from Home by The Rolling Stones. Analysis focuses on main musical features and characteristics of 60s Psychedelic Rock. A suggest written, research/homework activity is also provided. All information is included in 1 powerpoint resource.

A complete unit of work, exploring the use and development of Form & Structure in symphonic music from 1750-1900.

A comprehensive unit of work on 1970s British Punk (Politics, Protest & Pogoing), looking at the historical & political context, as well as two track analyses on The Clash’s White Riot (1977) and The Sex Pistols’ God Save the Queen (1977). American Bubblgum Punk of the early 2000s (America, Angst & Alternative Dress) is then explored with a track analysis of Green Day’s American Idiot (2004), followed by a look at more recent UK Punk with references to Soft Play’s Punk’s Dead (2023). Resource consists of 4 separate powerpoints and a written assignment template. Warning: there are some potentially triggering references and images linked to 9/11. Exploration of lyrical content throughout touches on some sensitive topics. Quotes of lyrics reference explicit language.

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.

An analysis of Saariaho’s Petals for the 21st century topic on the Eduqas A’level Music specification. Close look at extended playing techniques for the cello and the use of technology, including harmoniser & reverb units. Discussion of the use of the spectralism style, harmony & tonality, rhythm & metre and graphical notation. Worksheet and teacher analysis. Recordings and scores can be freely found online.

A comprehensive guide to 70s Funk, with specific focus on The Commodores and Stevie Wonder. Track Analyses include: Brick House by The Commodores and Superstition by Stevie Wonder. Analysis focuses on main musical features and characteristics of 70s Funk. A suggested written, research/homework activity is also provided. All information is included in 1 powerpoint resource.

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”).

An annotated score for Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, Movement II (Andante con moto). Useful for score analysis, understanding instrumentation, harmony/tonality, structure and textures. Set work on the Eduqas syllabus.

Classroom poster with background information on Sally Beamish (composer of Opus California).

Classroom poster with keywords needed in the study of the "Into the 21st Century" topic (Eduqas).

A five-page glossary of useful terminology for the study of Rock & Pop (Eduqas AS-level Music). A starting point and precursor research activity to the study of Rock & Pop music from the 1960s-1990s.

A sample question as part of the Eduqas Unit 3 A-level Music specification. Two versions of “Rollercoaster of Love” - Ohio Players and RHCP. Original Funk vs. Rock-Funk fusion cover.

Eduqas A-level Music. Revision sheet to guide students towards a plethora of wider listening/understanding within the 21st century topic (Area of Study F). Composers such as Lutoslawski, Hans Werner Henze, Judith Weir and Mark Anthony Turnage are mentioned, amongst many others. Also, a separate snapshot of the works of Kaija Saariaho.

WCT Minuet & Trio Research: Focus on Trios and Contrast/Variety in composition. A set of scores, recordings and analysis notes, showing how Trios vary compositionally compared to Minuets.

A resource that uses the documentary “Punk Britannia Part 2 1976-1978". Set of research questions for students to answer whilst watching the documentary. Answers for teachers also provided. Good as an introduction to British Punk and an insight into the politics of the time. Takes around 2-3 hours minimum as a mini-project: 1-2 hours to watch and make notes, 1 hour as a class discussion. Could be used for BTEC Music (Unit 30 Pop Music in Practise) or A’level Music.