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AQA GCSE AOS 4: The orchestral music of Bartók and Kodály

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

Teaching materials exploring the orchestral works of Bartók 'Concerto for Orchestra', 'Romanian Folk Dances', 'Dance Suite', and 'Music for Piano, percussion and celesta', and Kodály 'Concerto for Orchestra' and 'Hary Janos Suite'. This resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 4: The orchestral music of Aaron Copland

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of the influences and characteristics of the orchestral music of Copland through the ballet scores of 'Rodeo' and 'Appalachian Spring', 'Fanfare for the Common Man', 'Quiet City', and 'Lincoln Portrait'. This resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 4: Minimalist music of Adams, Reich and Riley

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of the influences and characteristics of Minimalism, drawing on works by Adams, Glass, Reich, Riley, Bertelmann, Meredith, Finch, Keita, Glyn and Monk. The resource includes thumbprints of style, 'listening and appraising' questions exam style questions and aural training, focusing on composers' use of melodic cells, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre and the use of sonority. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 3: Fusion Music - African Fusion

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of traditional timbres - kora, balafon, mbira, djembe, dunun, ashiko, dondo, cowbell, gankogui, shekere, established fusions like Highlife, Kwela, Isicathamiya and Mbaqanga and a range of examples beyond. The resource focuses on the recognition of timbres and techniques relating to texture, layering, polyrhythm, cross-rhythm, and cyclic structures in African fusion musics, through 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with free sign up

AQA GCSE AOS 2: Gaming music since 1990

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of the characteristics of Gaming Music through the works of Harry Gregson Williams, Jesper Kyd, Jeremy Soule, Yasunori Mitsuda, Austin Wintory, Yoko Shimomura and Koji Kondo. The resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 3: Blues music 1920-1950

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of the music of Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Count Bassie, Oscar Peterson, Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 3: Fusion Music - Music of the Caribbean

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of Calypso, Ska, Rock Steady, Reggae and music for steelpan, featuring Lord Invader, The Ethiopians, The Skatalites, Derrick Morgan, Peter Tosh, and Bob Marley and the Wailers. This resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 2: Broadway Musicals 1950 - 1990s

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

Fifty years of Broadway Musicals - from 'The Sound of Music' to 'The Lion King' featuring the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Herman and Stewart, Loesser, Cole Porter, Sherman brothers, Coleman and Fields, Elton John and Tim Rice, and Sondheim. This resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 2: Rock music of the 1960s and 1970s

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of Rock Music based on the music of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Steppenwolf, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dread, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, ELO, Rush, Yes, Queen, The Sex Pistols, Patti Smith and The Clash. The resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.

Available with full membership

AQA GCSE AOS 2: Film Music since the 1990s

Specialist teaching resource for GCSE

AQA Areas of Study

An exploration of the characteristics of Film Music through the works of Alexandre Desplat, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Joe Hisaishi, Thomas Newman, Rachel Portman, Howard Shore, John Williams, Hans Zimmer and Laura Karpman. The resource includes thumbprints of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, harmonic language, tonality, structure, texture, dynamics, rhythm, tempo, metre, the use of sonority, 'listening and appraising' questions and exam style questions. An additional wider listening playlist provides starting points for further questions to broaden and deepen students' understanding of style and genre.