Teaching Materials

Developing wider listening: opera, part two

In part one of this resource, we looked at examples of the earliest surviving operas, including works by Monteverdi, Purcell and Handel. In part two, we’ll look at how opera – like so many other...

Teaching Materials

Getting and keeping boys singing

The absence of boys in choirs is a perennial problem. This resource will share insights from boys and men who have had a variety of experiences singing as children and teens, and suggest practical...

Teaching Materials

Quick wins in KS3 composition

Nurturing confidence in composition is absolutely crucial. In this resource, we’ll look at different scenarios for KS3 groups with a range of composing experience. We’ll outline short ‘quick-win’...

Teaching Materials

Practice: part three – learning a new piece

In this third and final part of this resource, we’ll examine the nitty-gritty of learning a new piece. The piece is a hypothetical one, and we’ll imagine the various technical and musical challenges...

Teaching Materials

Working with parents, friends and your community

A successful music department relies on the community around it – students, staff, parents, friends and the broader local community. Without all these elements, it’s hard to sustain a programme that...

Teaching Materials

Developing wider listening: opera, part one

In this multi-part series, we’ll chart the development of Western opera as we know it, from its early incarnations in the Renaissance, through its unparalleled growth in the late Baroque and Classical...

Teaching Materials

Boosting sightreading for bowed strings with alternative notations

Many young string players find reading staff notation difficult. This can become demotivating and hinder progress. Alternative notations not only provide an interesting insight into other musical...

Teaching Materials

Practice: part two – boosting productivity

In the first of this three-part resource, we looked at the need to be realistic about how much practice we can expect from our students. This second resource is dedicated to our conscientious students...

Teaching Materials

Composing to a brief

GCSE composing briefs tend to be fairly vague and... brief! In this resource we’ll explore what elements to focus on, how to use the given briefs to your students’ advantage, and how to choose the...

Teaching Materials

OCR/AQA/Edexcel: solo artists of the 21st century

There are several GCSE and A Level specifications that include pop music from the 1990s to the present day. This resource will look at the music of three extremely well-known solo artists of the 21st...

Teaching Materials

Starting a choir in your school

Whether you’re teaching in primary, secondary, post-16 or alternative provisions, singing in a choir is a fantastic opportunity to offer to young people. This resource introduces key considerations...

Teaching Materials

Practice: part one – developing realistic expectations

In this first of a three-part survey of practice, we’ll look at how we can develop realistic expectations and adapt our approach according to the individual, rather than expecting students to apply...

Teaching Materials