music education resources

These pages are being developed to offer a range of music education resources.  The list of resources available so far is given below.  

RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Clever Sticks - a collection of resources to support whole-class music-making in the primary school using tuned percussion instruments.  The resources consist of thirteen Activity Plans (designed to be completed in one session) and ten Units of Work which would take approximately six weeks.  

Please click here to view the full set of Clever Sticks resources.

Cycle Pieces - easy ensemble pieces, suitable for whole classes or smaller groups.

Cycle 1                          Cycle 1 (Bb instruments)                      Cycle 1 - performance notes

Descriptive Music-Making - a summary of activities in which children can use music and sound to create moods and atmospheres, describe feelings and events. Click here to download.

The Gentle Art of Persuasion - some ideas for using sounds and music to illustrate Aesop's fable about the north wind and the sun.  Click here to view

Improvising over 2 chords - Some ideas for developing improvisation skills using a repeating chord pattern.  Includes charts for Bb and Eb instruments.  Click here to view.

Musical Storytelling - some ideas for the classroom about using music to illustrate stories, bring out aspects of characters or situations, or to tell stories without words.  Click here to view

Playing Together - creative music-making in large groups - includes guidance on musical content and organising events.

Rhythm Games and activities

Echoing - playing short rhythms by ear, in groups or pairs

Filling the gaps - a framework that enables young people to make up their own short rhythm patterns

Rhythm groups - using short rhythm patterns to develop a structured ensemble composition

TUBS - an acronym for Time Unit Box System - another way of creating a composition for rhythm ensemble

Using a drone is a very effective way of supporting melodic invention.  Click here for an activity which helps children to improvise their own tunes.  This activity is designed for tuned percussion instruments but can be adapted for use with any instrument.

Using Musical Instruments in the Early Years.  This document gives general guidance and a range of ideas for using musical instruments with very young children in early years settings.


Please click here for information about workshops and other projects.