Trevor Webb and Nicholas Drewe. A series of books giving practical projects for use in preparation of the GCSE examinations in music. All the books are grounded on the three major principles of the GCSE syllabuses: listening composing and performing. They may be used either as a complete series or independently. In the early stages the emphasis is on active participation the subject matter is diverse allowing scope for the teacher to introduce a broad range of musical topics. The listening and composing elements gain a greater importance within the series as it progresses although there is always integration between them. Books 1 And 2 contain a variety of projects onrhythm scales tunes chords writing a pop song composing with electronic and conventional instruments and composing with voices amongst many other ideas. Books 3 And 4 offer 22 different listening exercises which are based on the works of a wide range of composers including Bach Handel Elgar Britten Joplin McCartney and Lloyd Webber. Each piece is presented in the form of a skeleton score and questions are set to develop the pupil’s aural perception and musical literacy. The music cassette which accompanies these two books includes recordings of many of the works.

George Self. This book recognises that aural work is essential to help pupils derive the full benefits from class music. The 17 lessons are designed to be used with students of varied ability. Most questions are based on the comparative method; for example a short melodic shape is played pupils identify this from three or four shapes printed in their own books. Gradually structural elements are introduced and the book draws its examples from different musical periods and cultures.

Description Suitable for young beginners, this book by S. J. Townshend, provides short exercises in the elementary rudiments of music including questions on clefs and staves, notes and values, accidentals, rests, tones and semitones, introduction to major scales, key signatures, tonic triads, time-signatures and musical terms.