It is that time of year where students up and down the country are revising hard for their exams. So I thought I would provide a “Revision Roundup” – a few things I am using with my students to help them revise.
Music Department Resources
This is a wonderful website from the wonderful Liz Dunbar. It is packed full of questions, resources, revisions and inspiration. Students will find questions to help support set-works, playlists to expand their listening and helpful advice for the exam.
This website has it all, from KS3 – 5. I particularly love the skeleton score questions for A-level and the shareable questions for GCSE. An amazing website, and I hope that you will take a look in time for this summers exam season. I want your students to enjoy this as much as mine!
Elemental Music
This is a seriously cool website that will help you, and your students. Not only can you use it throughout the year, but you can utilise it right now for the exam revision season. The website is supported by clever AI, and it will track students and push them towards their goals. As a teacher you can set work, and schedule it right up until the exam and beyond. The questions can be selected by students, or set by teachers, and the interface is great. Please do check it out and get your students using it!
Focus on Sound
I have been using Focus on Sound for years now, and I still rely on it to support my students. The way that the theory is linked to sound is fantastic in preparation for the listening exam. You can use the pre-existing questions, or create your own. Setting homework is a breeze and all the major exam boards are supported. Please do use it consistently as students will really benefit. It is also great for active learning in revision lessons where students can jump on and look things up quickly and easily!
I Can Compose
Coursework composing might be done for another year, but students still need other be listening to music! I Can Compose is a great place for finding wonderful listening resources. QR codes will quickly link students to questions, and there are a whole load of topics and genres. If we can get students deliberately listening more, then we will prepare them for that vital competent of music GCSE & A-Level, Wider Listening!
Mastering A-Level Music
This is for Edexcel A-Level Music students and teachers, and what an amazing resource this is. I cannot really express how amazon this website is, and Alex has created something truly amazing. There is nothing that this site doesn’t cover – listening, set works, exam technique and essays. It is an amazing resource and I really do think that every Edexcel student needs access to this. Get int ouch with Alex for more details, and he also runs an amazing bursary scheme for schools. I have blogged about this before, and I will blog again. My students love it, and I do too! I especially love listening to Alex as he has recorded himself speaking through the set works!
Passing Notes
There are a wealth of great resources on this wonderful website, and Chris has built something wonderful. Not only are there webinars, but loads of recordings to support teaching, and revision. You can download past webinars, and sign up for future ones. It can help now, and it will help in the future. Check it out and sign up for updates!
Music Teacher Magazine Resources
It is hard to believe how many resources are featured in Music Teacher Magazine over the years. I have loved writing lots of them, but forget me, there are loads of great resources on there. You need to be a subscriber, but it is worth it because you will find so many amazing articles. There are articles for KS3-KS5, and probably everything either side. There are set works resources, and also articles that focus on elements and listening. It is well worth looking at this and sharing with students!
Revision Roundup!
So there are just a few website and resources that I hope will help you. I may post some more ideas in the coming days, but do share these with your students. And yes, some do cost money, but I would suggest that you approach your school to fund these as they will help students to make progress. Some of these sites are the same price as a couple of cups of coffee a month, and yet they are worth way more than that.
Enjoy the revision season!