This is a scheme of work I use with year 9 (although it could be any KS3 cohort) to introduce them to a DAW, in this case FL studio although it could be adapted for any DAW. It requires students to design a basic platform game, compose a theme for it and then create different levels of the game (ie a water or forest level) using their initial melody and thus creating the variations. The first variation is a water level for all and looks at Aquarium from Carnival of the Animals and then the subsequent variation is a free choice. The key musical features covered, in addition to learning how to use DAW software is T&V structure, a variety of textures and timbres. Any stars within the PowerPoint have a link to a video attached.

This is a scheme of work I use with year 8 (although it could be any KS3 cohort) to introduce them to a DAW, in this case FL studio although it could be adapted for any DAW. It requires students to write a Hip-Hop song using Pachelbel’s canon bass line as a starting point in pairs with the key musical terminology being Ground Bass and Ostinato. Any stars within the PowerPoint have a link to a video attached.

This is a scheme of work I use with year 9. It introduces them to Calypso music, through a class steel pan ensemble performance of yellow bird (music provided), the following week introduces students to Reggae and there is another class performance on the steel pans of Three Little Birds (music again provided). It then moves onto a larger project for the rest of the half term, a fusion of a pop song. I love this unit as I find that it really sets students up for GCSE courses, using much of the same vocabulary. Although the music resources are for Steel Pans in the case of Yellow Bird, there is a version of Three Little Birds not for Steel Pans if you don’t have any. n.b Any stars in the powerpoint are hyperlinks to the musical examples.

This scheme of work is currently being taught to year 9 students. The scheme of work focuses on horror music and ways of creating tension in music. This project also introduces students to Sibelius for the first time, with the main project being scoring the music to a clip from the woman in black. All clips/videos should be embedded within the powerpoint, a cue sheet for the clip is also attached.

Arrangement of Eye of the Tiger, it only has the intro, first half of the first verse and chorus. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows. 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, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of Paradise by George Ezra. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for voice, flute, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of All By Myself. 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, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s only the first two verses/choruses. It’s currently for voice, flute, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of In Dulci Jubilo by Mike Oldfield. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs. It doesn’t include the electric guitar solo.

Arrangement of Everything I Do (I Do It For You) by Bryan Adams. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for voice, flute, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of School’s Out (Alice Cooper), it has the first verse, chorus and middle 8, currently it has the lyrics ‘School’s Out for Christmas’ but this is easily reverted to the original. 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, electric guitar, piano, bass and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

Arrangement of Bad Guy (Billie Eilish) although it doesn’t have the middle 8 section. It’s a Sibelius 6 verison so that it’ll open on anything Sibelius 6 or later. It’s currently for voice, flute, two clarinets, cornet/trumpet, piano and drums but can be easily rearranged for your needs.

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.

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.

This is the PowerPoint I used to teach my students about the British music of Tavener, Britten, Maxwell-Davies and Arnold. It includes key vocab, listening and a practical activity.