Education Resources
I have a large amount of educational resources and I’m starting to share them here. More will be added over time. If you’d like me to create something specific for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Musical Skills Test
$55 NZD
This aptitude test was developed to provide teachers with a resource to aid their assessment of music students’ listening abilities. It was intended as a replacement to the aged Bentley Test and was developed with the support of three Auckland schools. Copies have now been sold to 60+ schools around New Zealand and overseas.
Theory Basics Reference Sheet
FREE
This is a 7-page theory reference booklet aimed at entry-level students, covering many of the basics of music. It is best printed as an A5 booklet.
Composition Techniques
FREE
A selection of 18 composition techniques (or variation devices, or compositional tools…), described with an example, and shown against an original motif. Available also as a Keynote presentation which has audio included.
Balancing a Composition
FREE
I’ve developed this list as a discussion starting point with senior students, to consider the extent different elements feature in a piece of music (whether their own or any piece of music). Then relating ideas back to the composer’s intent can make for interesting discoveries.
Working Out Keys and Key Signatures
FREE
One of the most important concepts to understand in music, and one of the most confusing for younger students. The method described in this resource I’ve found to be the most successful by far.
Active Listening
FREE
This is a task for any amount of students. It teaches them to listen to music actively and with intent, instead of just for enjoyment. There are three stages of elements to listen for and think about while listening to a chosen piece of music.
Textural Composition
FREE
This is a whole class activity and is based on an idea from the legendary Frank Ticheli. The class will perform this ‘piece’, with someone indicating when groups move to the next section. There are multiple ways you can approach it, and you can make your own. You can discuss structure, texture, dynamics, effects, tempo, rhythm, and much more.
Simple vs Compound chart
FREE
A ‘simple’ chart comparing simple and compound duple, triple and quadruple time signatures.
NEW ZEALAND MUSIC
SOUNZ - Centre for New Zealand Music
CANZ - Composers Association of New Zealand
Audio Culture - The noisy library of New Zealand music
Folk Song - traditional NZ music archive
NZ Music Commission - home of NZ Music Month and many other initiatives
THEORY
MusicTheory.net - theory lessons, exercises and tools - GREAT for extension work or extra help.
HookPad - impressive songwriting tools for transcription, chord selection and melody writing.
Chordie - Play your midi controller, and see note names, notation, chord name and the guitar voicing!
iRehearse - great for learning music from a recording or transcribing music.
MusicTheoryGuy - a fantastic library of video lessons on YouTube.
EXPLORATION
Every Noise At Once - view and listen to every genre of music - amazing!
Philharmonia Orchestra | Instruments - detailed videos exploring all instruments of the orchestra.
16 Tips on Composing Music article by Bob Reynolds
This Day In Music history website.
Finally a quick plug to say I do offer private lessons and mentoring based either online or in-person, and also workshops and professional development. Click below for details: