Key Stage 3 Materials

 

Pupil access page is www.mtrs.co.uk/pupils

The Elements of Sound / Graphic Scores
A practical 8 week course introducing graphic scoring techniques and control of classroom instruments.
Age guide : 11-12 (UK Year 7)

Basic Keyboard Skills
Pupils get to know keyboard functions and start learning to read staff notation through composing and performing.
Age guide : 11-12 (UK Year 7).  This scheme is now in the public domain (July 2002)


Rhythm and Pulse
Pupils approach the learning of rhythm through composing and performing.  Materials are well differentiated to allow for all abilities.  Use also the small rhythm cards in the support materials.

Age guide : 11-12 (UK Year 7).

Chords
Pupils learn the principles of chord playing in manual and automatic form.  There are composing projects built into the scheme.  Optimised for Yamaha keyboards but can be adapted for Casio auto chord functions.
Age guide : 11-12 (UK Year 7)
 

Soundtracks
The focus of this project is composing music to a story.  Music for film is investigated as part of this project.
Age guide : 12-13 (UK Year 8)

Film Music soundtracks
Age guide : 12-14 (UK Year 8 or 9)
This is an alternative scheme to the unit above, and more suited to more independent workers or slightly older pupils.  The main difference is that there are four composing topics that pupils work through, instead of one.  

Drums of the World
Pupils are taken on a musical journey of India, Brazil and West Africa where they compose and perform percussion music using Talas, Samba and Polyrhythms.  During their travels, the pupils keep a diary of their experiences and styles of music.
Age guide : 12-13 (UK Year 8)

Theme and Variations
A practical 8 week course for keyboards but can be adapted for any instruments.
Age guide : 12-13 (UK Year 8)


The Renaissance
Pupils learn about the music of the Renaissance through composing using drones and performing standard dances of the period.  Useful supplementary project work using the Information booklet.  Now included in this unit is a self assessment.
Age guide : 12-13 (UK Year 8)


Musical Patterns
Pupils learn about different uses of patterns in music.  Sequence, pentatonic scales, walking bass and minimalist patterns are explored through composing and performing.
Age guide : 12-13 (UK Year 8)

Hooks and Riffs
This unit can be used on its own or in conjunction with 'Musical Patterns'.  Both the units deal with repeated patterns of notes (riffs) and this one also covers the use of Vocal Hook lines.
Age guide : 12-14 (UK Year 8 or Year 9)

Elements of pop music
This unit explores the structure of pop music and writing a pop song.  An enjoyable and exciting project.
Age guide : 12-13 (UK Year 8)

Rock Workshop 1
A practical 'workshop' type scheme which introduces pupils to the language of pop and rock music.  This scheme is particularly suited to lively pupils who may be difficult to manage.  It starts with drum kit work, then progresses to simple chord progressions using various styles of pop : Reggae, Heavy metal and 60's pop.  A very successful scheme, but tiring to teach!
Age guide :  13-14 (UK Year 9)

Rock Workshop 2
This is a logical follow up to Rock Workshop 1.  Here, all the skills learned in that course are put into practice by playing standard pop/rock music.  This course is certainly works with Year 9 (ages 13-14) as long as the essential groundwork has been done first, but  may also be suitable for older pupils.
Age guide :  13-16 (UK Year 9 - 11)


World Music
The musical language of the Pacific, North Africa, India and the Andes is explored through Performing and composing in this keyboard based unit.
Age guide : 13-14 (UK Year 9)
 

Popular Styles at the Keyboard
This is a unit which looks at improvisation using the blues scale, Reggae and Rock n' Roll.  There are plenty of opportunities for assessment in this unit.  A motivating course which has worked well with difficult pupils of this age.
Age guide : 13-14 (UK Year 9)
 

Music of the British Isles
We will be adding more to this scheme as time goes on.  Each pack contains information on a song from the British Isles, a classroom arrangement of the music, lyrics, MIDI accompaniment and sometimes even an arrangement playable by school band or orchestra.


Gamelan!
A fabulous way into music from Bali and Java.  No need to have access to a real Gamelan orchestra since classroom instruments are used in this scheme.  This scheme starts by performing a traditional piece from Bali, then progresses to composing in a Gamelan style.  Very detailed teacher notes, pupil worksheets and even a computer based task are included.
 

The Blues

A complete blues scheme of work which explores the standard blues chord sequence, walking bass, vamp and  improvisation.  There is a bank of starter activities and even a computer based task.  Assessment for learning is embedded in each activity.  The scheme works towards a performance of Fletcher Henderson's Jackass Blues.  A very popular scheme which took ages to develop and test.

 

Music Technology activity cards and worksheets           Last updated September 2004

Each activity is accompanied by a worksheet and a MIDI file.  This is an ongoing project which will be added to in months to come.

Handy tunes
This is a collection of handy tunes for various occasions.  They are presented in large notes and have chord indications over the stave.  Good for filling in time, keyboard or pitched percussion work.  If you have any requests... let me know and I'll put them on subject to copyright restrictions.  Note, a few of these appear on the free site.

 

Football fever

A fun quick project featuring football chants.   Well differentiated and works well with 11 to 14 year olds (UK Year 7 to Year 9)
 
Homework worksheets

Useful worksheets.  Can be used for differentiated work.  Includes extension work.  Topics covered so far : Treble clef notation, Bass clef notation, chords, simple rhythm