My Music Classroom

Reflections from my secondary music classroom

  • Aiming for full marks

    Aiming for full marks

    I always find this term hard going. Coursework deadlines for GCSE and A Level are imminent and I am wondering how on earth we are going to get everything in. But we will, despite the crazily busy lunchtimes in the computer room and last minute copying of scores and accompaniment…

  • Musical process, not outcome

    Musical process, not outcome

    Following on discussions and thoughts after the Assessment Conference I have been thinking a lot about the way I use assessment for learning. I can be incredibly guilty of assessing student work studiously and in great detail at the end of a project. I do not use recordings and videos…

  • Bristol Plays Music Assessment Conference

    Bristol Plays Music Assessment Conference

    In the last half term we were lucky to have Dr Fautley come to speak to music teachers in the local area about assessment. While there are further notes on the session, here I am going to put into words the headlines I took away. I am happy to email…

  • Assessment at Key Stage 3 in My Music Classroom

    Assessment at Key Stage 3 in My Music Classroom

    “For years I have given my students levels in my music classroom and for each musical project an assessment criteria which forms the basis of AFL in my lessons. I then use this for final assessments and to moderate work. I have always strived to keep music at the centre…

  • We are still singing!

    We are still singing!

    As I blogged in my first post I have been on a mission this term to give singing more prominence in my lessons. I am in the fortunate position of having two 50 minute curriculum lessons with my key stage 3 classes so have enjoyed doing at least 30 minutes…

  • Art is never finished, only abandoned (Da Vinci)

    Art is never finished, only abandoned (Da Vinci)

    So following my last post I have been trying to develop more awareness and confidence in my students that they are composing effectively in my classroom and that there is no ‘right answer’ that I am looking for. I usually start year 10 with a single composition as a kind…

  • A Composing Conundrum

    A Composing Conundrum

    “The last few weeks I have had the pleasure of starting to get to know my new year 10 GCSE group. They are an incredibly mixed bunch of young musicians and enter the course with from a range of backgrounds. To start the course I asked the students to complete…

  • Don’t Stop The Music

    Don’t Stop The Music

    “On Wednesday night, like many others, I sat down to watch the new C4 offering ‘Don’t Stop The Music’. I have already read some very good responses online so thought I would offer mine. Throughout the programme I went through many emotions: horror upon watching the primary lesson taught by…

  • In this room, we make music….

    In this room, we make music….

    So after much deliberation over the summer, I have finally decided to ditch the formal centre tables in our large music classroom. Admittedly, I had reservations, most of which revolved around managing note-taking in listening lessons at key stage 4 and 5. But in the end, the benefits of the…

  • New Year’s Resolutions

    New Year’s Resolutions

    “On Wednesday night I took part in the weekly #mufuchat and got to thinking about the fresh start I have before me in September. Despite the disappointment of the ending holiday break there is something quite exciting about the new academic year: new planner, new classes, fresh concert repertoire and…