Free and premium music resources including classroom activities, full schemes of work, posters, practice exam questions, revision materials, and much more! More resources are currently being written, so keep checking back regularly. Follow me on twitter for regular updates @SeanYoung_Music and check out my Facebook page @SeanYoungMusicEd.
Free and premium music resources including classroom activities, full schemes of work, posters, practice exam questions, revision materials, and much more! More resources are currently being written, so keep checking back regularly. Follow me on twitter for regular updates @SeanYoung_Music and check out my Facebook page @SeanYoungMusicEd.
This pack of posters currently contains 16 full colour A3 classroom posters, ideal to brighten up your music classroom. They range from basic note identification on the keyboard, to posters more ideal for GCSE and Post 16 Level such as characteristics of Baroque and Classical music.
The pack currently contains the following posters:
– Baroque Music
– Baroque Composers
– Cadences
– Classical Music
– Classical Composers
– Dynamics
– Film Music
– Reading Music
– Romantic Music
– Romantic Composers
– Sonata Form
– Tempo
– The Guitar
– The Keyboard
– The Instruments of the Orchestra
– Musical Voices
For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated. A pdf file combining all of the posters and including crop marks and colour bars has been added, should you require it if you choose to have your posters commercially printed.
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list.
Please leave a review if you purchase this item, and share photos of your display on twitter @SeanYoung_Music
Most GCSE Specifications require students to have a basic knowledge of cadences that they can use to identify them through the study of set works, and through listening to unfamiliar music, or both. This 6-page worksheet introduces the concept of the cadence at it's most basic level, and progresses through 3 different tasks ensuring that students are able to practice recognising cadences from a score, by listening, and able to write cadences in their own composition.
The worksheet begins with a comprehensive guide that introduces the concept of the cadence, ensuring that students can recognise chords and assign the appropriate roman numeral, before introducing each of the four types of cadence, each accompanied by a written example.
There are three subsequent tasks aimed at securing student's understanding – they are:
– Task 1: To name various cadences by analysing a score;
– Task 2: To complete the last two chords of a simple chorale phrase, using the cadence specified;
– Task 3: A listening question requiring students to identify 6 cadences at the end of a short chorale harmonisation (audio file included).
A limited preview of the worksheet is available from the files list.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to check the coverage of this worksheet against the exam board specification, this worksheet does not intend to offer complete coverage for all specifications.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
Important: please read the information below regarding skeleton scores and audio.
This 52 page resource contains a compilation of practice questions for the Component 3: Appraising exam for the new 2016 Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Specification. In the exam, students will be required to complete listening questions based on set works from each of the areas of study. The questions in this collection are tailored specifically towards the set works in Area of Study 3: Music for Stage and Screen.
The collection contains:
– Five listening questions based on Stephen Schwartz, ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked
– Five listening questions based on John Williams, ‘Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner’, from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
– Three musical dictation questions based on Stephen Schwartz, ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked
– Three musical dictation questions based on John Williams, ‘Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner’, from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
– Two unfamiliar listening questions.
– Full mark scheme for teachers.
– Student mark record sheet for tracking progress.
Student Book
– In response to a suggestion made on Twitter by a user of this resource, a student book has now been added which contains just the questions and the mark record sheet, with the answers omitted, to enable teachers to print a whole booklet for their students to use, without them being able to consult the answers.
Audio Recordings
– For reasons of copyright, this resource does not contain the audio recordings that are required to complete the questions. Full details of specific recordings and timings are provided, and for those questions that relate directly to a set work, the recording used is the same as that recommended in the specification, so should be available already.
Skeleton Scores for Unfamiliar Listening
– Unlike the books for Areas of Study 1 and 2, the extracts used for the unfamiliar questions are not taken from music in the public domain. For copyright reasons scores have not, therefore, been included. In place of this, instructions have been included detailing how a score can be made and a suggested score available from Musicnotes.com. The absence of these scores is reflected in the cheaper price of the books for AoS3 and AoS4.
These questions are all based on those that will be found in Section A of the examination. No questions based on those from Section B are included.
A sample question is available to preview by selecting the ‘Sample Question’ file in the files list.
If you purchase this resource, please leave a rating and feedback!
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Update, 16/09/2016: Correction of an error in the ‘Dictation Scores for Teacher’ section, in which the score for Question 11 was incorrect.
Update, 11/09/2017: Student Book added.
Technical exercises in composition, such as the harmonisation of a chorale in the style of J. S. Bach feature as an option in the majority of A Level Music specifications.
This worksheet introduces some of the key stylistic issues in chorale harmonisation, including good spacing of chords, the avoidance of parallel fifths and octaves, and the use of melodic decoration such as passing notes. The worksheet is broken down into five tasks, the first four of which are preceded by useful tutorial sections, that explain the theory behind what is required in the following task. Each of the tasks increase in difficulty, leading to the harmonisation of a complete chorale melody. The worksheet is ideal for use both within the classroom, and as homework, and each of the tasks are self contained so may be used in isolation.
The five tasks are:
– Task 1: The completion of the alto and tenor part of a series of chords, using good spacing and doubling the correct notes;
– Task 2: The complete voicing of a series of specified chords, using the rules of doubling and spacing previously learned in Task 1;
– Task 3: To gain practice in spotting parallel and hidden fifths and octaves in students' own work, by highlighting mistakes in a series of given chorale harmonisations;
– Task 4: To rewrite a the alto, tenor and bass parts of a given harmonisation, to include passing notes and other decoration;
– Task 5: To complete a full harmonisation of a given chorale melody, using all of the techniques learned previously.
New for September 2024! A set of 15 practice listening/exam-style questions, covering all of Area of Study 1, including the new study piece, Beethoven Symphony 1. Great for end of unit tests and building exam technique without using up the limited ‘real’ past papers.
This 66 page resource includes 10 unfamiliar listening practice questions for each of the strands of the Western Classical Tradition 1650–1910, including:
– the coronation anthems and oratorios of Handel;
– the orchestral music of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven;
– the piano music of Chopin and Schumann; and
– the Requiem of the late Romantic period.
There are also 5 further questions updated for the new study piece for first teaching from September 2024, Beethoven: Symphony No. 1, Movement 1, in the style of Section B of the exam.
Regular practice with exam-style questions is crucial for exam success, and should form part of well-rounded study and preparation for the exam. This book of additional questions will allow you to save the limited number of ‘real’ past papers for closer to the exam.
This book includes 15 total questions, complete with a mark scheme and mark record sheet that students can used to track their progress.
Sample pages are available to view in the files section.
All audio files are included.
This pack, containing 11 worksheets and 1 teacher guide, is aimed at supporting the teaching of Set Work 3, Music for a While, by Henry Purcell, from the new Pearson Edexcel GCSE Music (9-1) 2016 specification.
The activities and tasks on each of the worksheets range in difficulty, in order to support the development of skills for a range of abilities.
The following worksheets are included:
– Worksheet 3.1: First Impressions;
– Worksheet 3.2: The Set Work in Context;
– Worksheet 3.3: Instrumentation;
– Worksheet 3.4: Structure and Ground Bass;
– Worksheet 3.5: Text Setting;
– Worksheet 3.6: Ornaments;
– Worksheet 3.7: Laments;
– Worksheet 3.8: Harmony;
– Worksheet 3.9: Exam Style Questions;
– Worksheet 3.10: Comparison of Baroque Features;
– Worksheet 3.11: Check Your Knowledge.
In addition, a comprehensive answer sheet is included providing definitive answers (where they exist) and indicative content for student responses for every question presented in this worksheet pack. Added following feedback from a user of another worksheet pack in this series, these answers make marking and discussion of class tasks more efficient, and support peer and self-marking of tasks too!
Previews of the first page of each worksheet are available from the files list.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to check the coverage of this content against the exam board specification. This worksheet pack does not intend to offer complete coverage of the set work, but should be used instead as a tool to support the teaching of the subject content.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
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Update 31/05/2017: Correction of minor errors on Worksheet 3.2 and 3.9, and layout improvements in Worksheet 3.10.
Update 23/10/2017: Addition of Teacher Sheet 3, including answers to all questions.
This pack, containing 11 worksheets and 1 teacher answer sheet, is designed to support the teaching of Set Work 6, ‘Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner’ from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, by John Williams, from the new Pearson Edexcel GCSE Music (9-1) 2016 specification.
The activities and tasks on each of the worksheets are differentiated, in order to support the development of skills for a range of abilities.
The following worksheets are included:
– Worksheet 6.1: First Impressions;
– Worksheet 6.2: The Set Work in Context;
– Worksheet 6.3: Performing Forces;
– Worksheet 6.4: Leitmotifs;
– Worksheet 6.5: Structure;
– Worksheet 6.6: Texture;
– Worksheet 6.7: Rhythm, Metre and Tempo;
– Worksheet 6.8: Harmony and Tonality;
– Worksheet 6.9: Exam Style Questions;
– Worksheet 6.10: Wider Listening;
– Worksheet 6.11: Revision Checklist.
In addition, a comprehensive answer sheet is included providing definitive answers (where they exist) and indicative content for student responses for every question presented in this worksheet pack. Added following feedback from a user of another worksheet pack in this series, these answers make marking and discussion of class tasks more efficient, and support peer and self-marking of tasks too!
Previews of the first page of each worksheet are available from the files list.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to check this coverage of this content against the exam board specification, this worksheet pack does not intend to offer complete coverage of the set work, but should be used instead as a tool to support the teaching of the subject content.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
This pack of posters currently contains 13 full colour A3 classroom posters, with one for each major and minor key signature, ideal to brighten up your music classroom.
For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list.
Please leave a review if you purchase this item, and share photos of your display on twitter @SeanYoung_Music
This pack of posters currently contains 23 full colour A3 classroom posters, covering several of the most significant composers in the Western Classical tradition. These posters are perfect to brighten up your classroom, and help to familiarise your students with the key composers, the period they were from, and their nationality.
The pack currently contains posters for the following composers:
– Bach
– Beethoven
– Berlioz
– Brahms
– Debussy
– Elgar
– Fauré
– Handel
– Haydn
– Holst
– Mahler
– Mendelssohn
– Mozart
– Purcell
– Saint-Saëns
– Schoenberg
– Schubert
– Schumann
– Shostakovich
– Strauss
– Stravinsky
– Vaughan Williams
– Wagner
More composers will be added soon!
For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list.
Please leave a review if you purchase this item, and share photos of your display on twitter @SeanYoung_Music
This pack of posters currently contains 13 full colour A3 classroom posters, with one for each of the main instruments of the orchestra, ideal to brighten up your music classroom.
The pack currently contains the following posters:
– Piccolo
– Flute
– Oboe
– Clarinet
– Bassoon
– Horn
– Trumpet
– Trombone
– Tuba
– Violin
– Viola
– Cello
– Double Bass
For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list.
Please leave a review if you purchase this item, and share photos of your display on twitter @SeanYoung_Music
This resource contains 2-page guides to each of the common instruments used in Musical Futures style band lessons. Each guide covers the basic information about the instrument, misconceptions about how it should be played, the basics of playing each instrument, and it's appropriate notation.
Tried and refined after use in lessons, these guides are designed to help students to find quick answers to question that they may have about the instrument they are playing, while they wait for assistance for the teacher, encouraging initiative and independence.
The following guides are included:
– A Quick Guide to Bass Guitar;
– A Quick Guide to Drums;
– A Quick Guide to Guitar (two versions are included, one showing an annotated diagram of the guitar neck with each note labelled, the second with diagrams for the most common chords);
– A Quick Guide to Keyboard;
– A Quick Guide to Ukulele.
Previews of the first page of each guide are available in the files list.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
As part of the examination for the new Pearson Edexcel AS GCE Music specification students will be expected to complete an error identification test. These tests require candidates to listen to a monophonic extract of music and identify three errors in the music as it is notated in the exam paper. Having identified the errors, they will then be expected to write a correct version of the melody.
This book provides a series of practice error identification tests in the style of that given in the sample assessment materials provided by the exam board. In each of the tests included, a short melodic fragment or phrase from an existing piece of music has been taken.
The first 20 tests in the book are drawn from melodic material found in set works from Areas of Study 1-5 of the specification. Given the nature of the set works in the New Directions area of study, and the reduced importance of melody as a compositional device, or aleatoric nature of the score, the decision has been taken not to include tests for these set works. The final 8 tests are drawn from a wider range of repertoire in order to give students practice completing tests based on unfamiliar music. This is important, as there is no commitment in the specification that the material used in the actual examination will be drawn from either the set works, or the suggested wider listening list. As such, it will be beneficial for students to practice tests that are both from familiar and unfamiliar repertoire.
A full mark scheme and audio files for each question are included.
A mark record sheet for students to keep a log of their progress can also be found at the back of the book.
The book is provided as a PDF file, and the audio files for each question are provided in MP3 format within a compressed ZIP file.
This book is designed so that it can be used as one off printed sheets which can be given to students, or as a full printed booklet. A handy guide has been included to help you, if you want to print the full book, to help you make sure the right pages end up in the right place!
If you like this resource, please leave a review below.
This pack of posters currently contains 11 full colour A3 classroom posters, covering several of the most significant film composers of the 20th and 21st century. These posters are perfect to brighten up your classroom, and help to familiarise your students with the key composers of the film music genre, and the scores they composed.
The pack currently contains posters for the following composers:
– Alexandre Desplat
– Bernard Herrmann
– Danny Elfman
– Ennio Morricone
– Hans Zimmer
– Howard Shore
– James Horner
– Jerry Goldsmith
– John Barry
– John Williams
– Randy Newman
For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list.
Please leave a review if you purchase this item, and share photos of your display on twitter @SeanYoung_Music
In order to do well in their exam, your students will need to be familiar with the key musical features of each of the eight set works listed in the new 2016 Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Music Specification. These posters categorise the key features under each of the different elements of music, and will help your students to learn and memorise these elements effectively! The collection contains one revision poster for each of the 8 set works.
Please leave a review on the individual elements of this bundle if you like this resource, and share photos of your display and feedback to @SeanYoung_Music on Twitter!
In order to do well in their exam, your students will need to be familiar with the key musical features of each of the eight set works listed in the new 2016 Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Music Specification. These posters categorise the key features under each of the different elements of music, and will help your students to learn and memorise these elements effectively!
The collection contains one revision poster for each of the two set works listed in Area of Study 1: Instrumental Music (1700-1820)
– J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major (3rd movement)
– Beethoven: Sonata in C minor (Pathétique) (1st movement)
Great value at just £1 per poster!
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list. For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
In order to do well in their exam, your students will need to be familiar with the key musical features of each of the eight set works listed in the new 2016 Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Music Specification. These posters categorise the key features under each of the different elements of music, and will help your students to learn and memorise these elements effectively!
The collection contains one revision poster for each of the two set works listed in Area of Study 2: Vocal Music
– Henry Purcell, Oedipus, Z. 583: Music for a While
– Queen, ‘Killer Queen’ from the album Sheer Heart Attack
Great value at just £1 per poster!
All posters are supplied in PDF format.Previews of all posters are available in the files list. For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
In order to do well in their exam, your students will need to be familiar with the key musical features of each of the eight set works listed in the new 2016 Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Music Specification. These posters categorise the key features under each of the different elements of music, and will help your students to learn and memorise these elements effectively!
The collection contains one revision poster for each of the two set works listed in Area of Study 3: Music for Stage and Screen:
– Stephen Schwartz, ‘Defying Gravity’ from Wicked
– John Williams, ‘Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner’ from Star Wars
Great value at just £1 per poster!
All posters are supplied in PDF format. Previews of all posters are available in the files list. For the best results, the posters should be printed borderless on A3 paper, in colour, and laminated.
Please leave a review if you like this resource!
This document contains links to download the audio recordings recommended by the exam board for each of the set works on iTunes.
At the time of upload, the links included in this document were correct; however, you should check the latest version of the specification on the Pearson Edexcel website before downloading and using the audio tracks suggested in this document.
This arrangement of the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight contains three vocal groups, one melody and two accompaniment, prepared for a classroom singing session at Key Stage 3 level. The parts have been simplified and are easily memorable, making this suitable to be learned aurally.
This resource contains:
– A score containing each of the three parts
– A lyric sheet with the lyrics for the first vocal part
Please leave a rating and feedback below if you like this resource!
Regular wider listening is an important part of preparing for the new Eduqas GCSE Specification, as the exam requires students to listen and identify musical devices that are used in unfamiliar repertoire. The music they will be required to listen to in the exam will be related to by style and/or genre to one of the four areas of study. By engaging regularly in listening to unfamiliar music of these styles/genres, students will develop their appraising skills and their ability to recognise various musical devices in unfamiliar music.
To support this, I've launched #WiderListeningWednesday on Twitter and Facebook, with a different wider listening piece posted each Wednesday at 9.30 am. This wider listening diary is the perfect accompaniment to these weekly posts, as it will ensure your students engage regularly in listening outside of lessons and will provide a useful record for revision, without the task become arduous and time consuming.
What's included?
– The diary comes in the form of a full colour A5 booklet that can be printed for students which provides space for 51 diary entries in one place. For best results this should be printed commercially. Two versions of this booklet are included, one for in-house printing, and a second for commercial printing with all of the necessary crop marks included. Please consult the attached guidance for commercial printing to ensure your printed product appears correctly.
– The book contains useful guidance that will help students recognise the important features of each wider listening piece, and also contains a list of the musical devices listed in the specification, for reference.
– For ease, a handy printing guide has been included to guide you through in-house printing and some recommended print specifications, if you choose to let a professional print company handle your printing.
You can follow #WiderListeningWednesday on Twitter @SeanYoung_Music and Facebook @SeanYoungMusicEd!
Please share, retweet and leave a review of this resource if you like it!