GCSE Music AQA Teaching Resources

Teaching materials exploring the Baroque Anthem and Oratorio featuring Zadok the Priest, Chandos Anthems, The Messiah, and Judas Maccabaeus. This resource includes information on provenance, characteristics of style, aural training exploring aspects of melodic writing, word setting, harmonic language, tonality, texture, metre, tempo, rhythm, 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.

Classical period orchestral music explored in context, focusing on the symphonies and concerti of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. 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.

Characteristics of Romantic piano music from simple programmatic collections of miniatures and study works for amateur music making, to the virtuosic world of the impromptu, ballade and concerto. 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.

An exploration of Romanticism and the Requiem Mass, comparison of the Classical and Romantic Requiem based on the works of Faure, Verdi and Berlioz. 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.

Fifty years of Broadway shows - 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.

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.

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.

An exploration of Pop Music through the music of Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Tori Amos, Kylie, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Lauren Hill, Jason Mraz, Whitney Houston, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Stormzy, Harry Styles, Maltese, Kygo, Fodera, Backstreet Boys and Olly Murs. 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.

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.

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.

An exploration of today's British folk music, featuring Kathryn Tickell, Kate Rusby, Mumford and Sons, Eve Goodman, Laura Marling, Fleet Foxes and the Unthanks. 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.

An exploration of Cuban Son, Rumba, Salsa, Cha cha cha, Habanera, Brazilian Samba and Argentine Tango. 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.

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.

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.

Exploration of the influences and characteristics of the music of Arnold, Britten, Maxwell-Davies and Tavener. 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.

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.

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.

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.