Listening Activity 1 - Listening for Form and Structure in a Popular Song by a Solo Artist from the 1990’s to the Present Day

(uses Audio 1)

Audio 1 - “Grace” - Jeff Buckley

Listening Activity 2 - Learning about Voice Types in Popular Music and Listening to Solo Voices

(uses Audios 2 & 3)

Audio 2 - Vocal Ranges and Examples of Voice Types

Audio 3 - Listening to Solo Voices

Listening Activity 3 - Comparing Two Popular Songs

(uses Audio 4)

Audio 4 - Comparing Two Popular Songs

Listening Activity 4 - Learning about Singing Styles in Popular Music

(uses Audios 5-10)

Audio 5 - Learning about Falsetto (3 examples from Popular Songs) Audio 6 - Syllabic Word Setting Example Audio 7 - Melismatic Word Setting Example

Audio 8 - Examples of Syllabic and Melismatic Word Setting Audio 9 - Can you learn to sing Vibrato? (audio interview) Audio 10 - Four Examples of Word Painting from Popular Songs

Listening Activity 5 - Vocal Techniques and Singing Styles in Popular Music

(uses Audio 11)

Audio 11 - Listening for Vocal Techniques and Singing Styles in Popular Music

Listening Activity 6 - Pop Ballad Case Study - “Yesterday” - The Beatles

(uses Audios 12 & 13)

Audio 12 - “Yesterday” - The Beatles

Audio 13 - Appoggiatura Examples in “Yesterday” - The Beatles

Listening Activity 7 - Pop Ballad Case Study - “More than Words” - Extreme

(Uses Audios 14 & 15)

Audio 14 - “More than Words” - Extreme (opening extract)

Audio 15 - “More than Words” - Extreme (verse 2 extract)

Listening Activity 8 - Pop Ballad Case Study - “Your Song” - Elton John

(uses Audios 16 & 17)

Audio 16 - “Your Song” - Elton John

Audio 17 - Listening for Harmonic Rhythm in “Your Song” - Elton John

Ensemble Performing - Pop Ballad

“Love is All Around” - Wet, Wet, Wet

Song Sheet 1 - “Love is All Around”

Score 1 - “Love is All Around”

(Melody Line, Guitar Chords, Chords, Bass Line and B flat and E flat Melody Line Parts,

together with Full Score)

MIDI 1 - Song Melody & Melody Line;

MIDI 2 - Chords;    MIDI 3 - Bass Line;

MIDI 4 - All parts together

Conventions of Pop - Study & Revision Guide

Full 36-page Study and Revision Guide Booklet providing all underpinning knowledge as covered in the new GCSE (9-1) Music 2016 specification including emphasis on Rock ‘n’ Roll of the 1950’s and 1960’s, Rock Anthems of the 1970’s and 1980’s, Pop Ballads of the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s and Solo Artists from the 1990’s to the Present Day.  Includes key facts covering singing and vocals in popular music, vocal techniques and singing styles in popular music, vocal textures, word setting and word painting, vocal melodic movement and the roles of instruments in popular music ensembles.  Diagrams, illustrations and photos support learning and key words definitions highlight key musical vocabulary in relation to Conventions of Pop.  Learning Outcomes consolidate learning and act as a means of tracking pupil progress.

Conventions of Pop - Study & Revision Guide - Blank for Student Completion

This version of the Conventions of Pop Study & Revision Guide is identical to the one on the left, however the text has been removed and “question prompts” provided for pupils to complete their own answers and learning which involves identifying key musical features of each genre, labelling diagrams, identifying and researching famous performers, artists and bands and giving their own definitions of key words relating to Conventions of Pop.

Conventions of Pop - Revision Sheets

These four “all-on-one-page” revision sheets consolidate the information and key musical facts found in the Musical Contexts “Conventions of Pop Study & Revision Guide” making for easier revision and can be used as wall posters, fact sheets or “table mats” when revising for the Listening Examination. 

Each of the four Conventions of Pop Revision Sheets covers the key musical elements and instrumentation, timbres and sonorities within the four main genres covered in this Area of Study.