This is a complete unit of work all about Classical Music. The aim of this unit is to introduce KS3 pupils to Classical Music in a fun and engaging way to give them an appreciation of the genre and knowledge of it to ready them for GCSE. The unit gives a brief history of Classical Music and gets students playing famous Classical pieces- in particular in the Hall of the Mountain King. Fur Elise, Suprise Symphony and Danse Macabre scores are also included as piano scores. Students also learn about rhythm and pulse, dynamics, pitch and texture- key words they will need to GCSE. This scheme can be approached in different ways and is versatile- I have taught this using ICT and music software such as garageband, keyboards or using a range of instruments such as tuned percussion and guitars. The unit includes a written scheme of work, 7 powerpoints, a video with fun info about Classical Music and piano scores for In the Hall of the Mountain King, Danse Macabre, Fur Elise and Suprise Symphony.

This is a KS3 sow which introduces students to film music, in particular composing music for a scary scene. It teaches techniques such as chromaticism, ostinato, pedal, drone, cluster chords and unclear tempo and how to create these using music ICT software. There is a written SOW, powerpoints for 6 lessons, videos of the techniques, success criteria, help sheets, existing scary songs written out (good for the start of SOW or cover) and a number of logic/garageband examples with the techniques in. This techniques link in with many of the GCSE specs and key words that students are expected to know.

This unit of work introduces students to playing the keyboard. It takes them through how to position their hands, learn warm ups and scales, learning a pieced and learning how to read the notes on the staves. This includes a written Scheme of work, 7 powerpoints, keyboard scores such as twinkle twinkle little star, Fur Elise and scales and warm up exercises. This also includes videos for helping to learn the notes of the stave and grade descriptors.

This is a KS3 scheme of work which introduces students to composing through learning about the Carnival of Animals by Saint-Saens. It introduces students to the different elements of music and gets them composing their own music to fit with a chosen animal. This includes a written sow, powerpoints, musical scores, a quiz, audio examples of a range of animal compositions, peer assessment sheets, a video of the Swan being played and worksheets.

This is a unit of work for KS3 all about Blues Music. Note: This uses the same files as my other Blues Unit of Work upload- however it does not contain the tutorial videos. This unit has a practical approach and can be taught in a range of ways. I have done it just using music ICT software and midi keyboards, using live instruments when students work on their own e.g. pianos or live instruments where students work in groups on a range of instruments such as bass, piano, guitar and drums. This teaches some history and context as well as the main techniques of Blues- walking bassline, 12 bar blue chord sequence, improvising using the blues scale. It also has a few lessons on learning The Entertainer which I have found students enjoy learning. There is also a score for So What by Miles Davis in case you need an extra song to play. Included in this unit is a written scheme of work, 6 powerpoints and worksheets for learning the bassline, 12 bar blues chords, blues scale, So what by Miles Davis and The Entertainer by Scott Joplin.

This is a written SOW plus powerpoints and resources for a KS3 scheme on African Drumming. This works well with year 7. It gives activities and instructions for teaching a series of 6 lessons on African Drumming as well as powerpoints and resources that can be used to aid with the teaching of this unit. This explores some of culture and history of African Drumming- in particular Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast, and students also learn basic techniques of drumming, rhythmic devices and are introduced to note values and rhythmic notation. This includes 6 powerpoints, a video on basic rhythmic values, rhythm cards a rhythmic piece of music for students to learn (rhythm rumble), written SOW and links to online African Drumming videos.

This unit of work is aimed at introducing KS3 students to structure and form and composing their own ideas. It goes through key structures such as binary, ternary, arch, rondo and theme and variation with examples and opportunities to compose in those forms- this fits in with the knowledge needed for GCSE and covers many of the key words that will be needed for the listening and appriasing papers. This unit includes a written Scheme of work, 6 powerpoints with success criteria and logic file/mp3 examples of each structure.

This is a unit of work for KS3 all about Blues Music. It is the same as my other Blues unit but also includes video tutorials. This unit has a practical approach and can be taught in a range of ways. I have done it just using music ICT software and midi keyboards, using live instruments when students work on their own e.g. pianos or live instruments where students work in groups on a range of instruments such as bass, piano, guitar and drums. This teaches some history and context as well as the main techniques of Blues- walking bassline, 12 bar blue chord sequence, improvising using the blues scale. It also has a few lessons on learning The Entertainer which I have found students enjoy learning. Included in this unit is a written scheme of work, 6 powerpoints, 8 video tutorials for walking bassline, 12 bar blues chord sequence, blues scale and the Entertainer as well as a levels demonstration video. I have also included some resources for the Miles Davis song ‘So What’ as this has proved popular in the past as a Blues piece for students to learn.