Purcell Rondeau - music listening and composition unit, no technology required!

Engage your high school general music students in classical composition with this no-prep, print-and-go unit based on Rondeau from The Fairy Queen mini opera by Henry Purcell. Perfect for classrooms with limited access to instruments, technology, or a dedicated music space, these general music lesson plans are designed to develop listening skills, foster music appreciation, and inspire composition through a wide variety of activities. Rondeau from The Fairy Queen is a Baroque favourite and the perfect starting point for developing composition skills.

What’s included?
10 page printable workbook for students (PDF format)
Teacher instructions (PDF format)
Audio clips for listening tasks (mp3 format)

Not included: the audio file for the recording of Rondeau is not included for copyright reasons. However, the timings are clearly noted in the teacher instructions and the piece is easy to find on all major streaming platforms. The only technology required is a speaker, CD player or computer to play the music on.

Listening Activities: identifying musical features, melodic dictation of missing notes and sequences, developing aural skills/ear training
Theory activities: written tasks based on 3/4 time signature, notating sequences
Composer study: learn a little about the life and works of Henry Purcell
Composition: students compose several sequence passages which they develop into a full rondo form composition
Opportunities for whole class discussion and individual tasks

Tell me more!
This unit is flexible and ready-to-use! Ideal to fit into your regular curriculum, or to use for last-minute changes to your teaching circumstances. No instruments, technology, or special setup needed - just print the student booklets and students write directly on them. The tasks support key music education standards like active listening, analysis, theory, history and composition.

As music teachers, we have to be flexible and adaptable to room changes, limited resources, disengaged classes, behaviour challenges and more! I designed these units with these circumstances in mind! Whether you’ve to teach some quiet lessons, or you have no access to technology or instruments, or if you have a class who cannot be trusted with practical work, this unit will keep your students busy, engaged and learning! Despite the “no instruments, no technology label”, these lessons are not boring! They are are packed with a range of short activities, mixing theory work, listening excerpts, written tasks and class discussions.

The unit should last around 4 lessons, depending on the level of detail you choose to go into, your students’ abilities, and the time taken on the final composition project. Extension suggestions are included. This resource is black & white for easy, budget-friendly printing.

The composition can be completed on paper, on computers (with any music notation software) or at pianos, depending on your classroom setup.