The Marriage Diaries of Robert and Clara Schumann

The Schumann Marriage diaries provide a vivid portrait of the unique artistic and personal union between two renowned musicians. 

Listen to this: Alex Ross Focus on 1950 onwards

In 'Listen To This' Alex Ross, the music critic for the New Yorker, looks both backwards and forwards in time, capturing essential figures and ideas in classical music history, as well as giving an alternative view of recent pop music that emphasizes the power of the individual musical voice. 

Available in the LRC.

A guide to musical analysis by Nicholas Cook

This extremely practical introduction to musical analysis explores the factors that give unity and coherence to musical masterpieces.

Available in the LRC.

Good Vibrations: A History of Record Production by Mark Cunningham

From Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel, to Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Bohemian Rhapsody and Heroes, to more recent albums by BritPop stars Oasis and Kula Shaker, this book plots the development of popular music recording from the perspectives of the producers, engineers and session players. A perfect blend of the creative, the technical and the human, it chronicles the pioneers and their milestone achievements.

The Musical Human: A history of life on earth by Michael Spitzer

165 million years ago saw the birth of rhythm. 66 million years ago came the first melody. 40 thousand years ago Homo sapiens created the first musical instrument. Today music fills our lives. How we have created, performed and listened to this music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are.

The rest is noise: Listening to The Twentieth Century by Alex Ros

This book recounts the history of European and American music, starting in 1900, and highlights many examples.

Available in the LRC. 

Scoring the screen: The Secret Language of film music by Andy Hill

Today, musical composition for films is more popular than ever. In professional and academic spheres, media music study and practice are growing; undergraduate and postgraduate programs in media scoring are offered by dozens of major colleges and universities.

Debussy, A painter in sound by Steven Walsh

One of the most revered composers of the twentieth century, Claude Debussy reinvented the language of music without alienating the majority of music lovers. He drove French music into entirely new regions of beauty and excitement at a time when old traditions threatened to stifle it. Yet despite his profound influence on French culture, Debussy’s own life was complicated and often troubled by struggles over money, women, and ill health.

Available in the LRC.

Write a magazine article about Courtney Pine. 

Write a short essay discussing the development of the orchestra from the Baroque to Modern Period. 

Pick a composer you are interested in and write a short biography of their life and music. 

Listen to BBC radio 3 Composer of the week episode on Anoushka Shankar. 

Anoushka is a British-Indian-American sitar player, producer, film composer and activist.  

Build a playlist of at least 10 tracks for each of the 13 set works. 

Listen to at least three different versions of your recital pieces and compare. 

Watch this performance of 'The Rite of Spring' with the original choreography by Nijinsky. 

Watch the documentary 'The Beatles: a musical appreciation and analysis'. 

Watch the short animations made for the Vaughan Williams songs from 'On Wenlock Edge'. 

Animation One

Animation Two 

Animation Three

Research how sampling has impacted the development of popular music. 

Research what the key developments were and how 'classical' music changed in the twentieth century. 

Research female composers and present your findings in an accessible way for younger students to explore. 

Go to a concert at the Barbican or one of the proms at the Royal Albert Hall 

Create an entire album of your own compositions. 

Create a piece of music using only 'Found Sounds'. 

Enter yourself for Grade 5 or 6 Music Theory 

Apply for a summer school or workshop over the summer. 

There are lots of online courses; 

• Future Learn 

• Summer School 

Perform at St Peter’s Recital or set up a lunchtime concert.

Audition for a county or national ensemble.

Lead an ensemble for younger students.