Year 8

Read Learning To Read Music by Peter Nickols. 

Whether you want to learn how to play an instrument, or just refresh your existing capability, whether you sing in a choir, or would simply like to follow scores while listening, this book will help you achieve your aim. It leads you carefully through the basics of pitch, rhythm, keys, scales, chords, and much more, building your knowledge chapter by chapter until you are able to read music with ease. This book is available in the school library for borrowing by all pupils.

Read Musicals In Focus by Paul Terry

Musicals in Focus investigates what is meant by a musical, looks at how they are constructed, their most common features and why they have become such a well-loved form of entertainment. This book is available in the school library for borrowing by all pupils.

Listen to some podcasts using the BBC link below:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0bfpv59

There are numerous podcasts on female composers (past and present), musical theatre composers and classical composers you have studied in your curriculum.

Watch a film musical of your choice. Some suggestions:

• Steven Spielberg's remake of 'West Side Story', 

• 'Hamilton' '

• ‘Annie' on Disney +

• The Wizard of Oz on Youtube

• Shrek The Musical on Netflix

Choose a blues musician to research in more detail and write a short article on their life and music. 

Helpful link: https://www.britannica.com/art/blues-music/History-and-notable-musicians 

Attend a concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Write a report as a critic. Comment on the music you heard in the concert and how it made you feel.

Africa Oye Festival in Liverpool

Create your own composition on the theme of a character you have created. Try to notate this if you can, or produce a detailed write up which explains how your musical decisions reflect your character (e.g the tempo is fast because they are energetic!).

If you do not have access to an instrument, try one of these apps or websites on a phone or tablet device:

https://www.onlinepianist.com/virtual-piano
https://www.musicca.com/piano
https://virtualpiano.net/