Song
Dawn Parade, from the original Disney cartoon.
KS1/2: Suggested in QCA Unit 9 as example of music that describes animals.
KS3 idea: Can be viewed as an example of the march genre, drawing attention to the verbal counting and regular pulse and typical 'oompah' bass line. Notice how the march tempo that suits elephants is slower than would suit humans (perhaps contrast it with a typical Sousa march).
Official classification: Song, Animals, Video, Unit 9 Animal Magic, Curriculum support
Footage of live performance by Hendrix at Woodstock 1969
Official classification: Song, 1960s, Video, Rock, Curriculum support, Performance video clip, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Full audio of Genesis single from 1981, featuring classic keyboard riffs. Named according to it's original A-B-A-C-A-B structure, however this is not the structure of the final recording!
Official classification: Song, 1980s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 3. Soundscapes, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Full audio of 1967 song by legendary guitarist Hendrix with another memorable rock guitar riff.
Official classification: Electric Guitar, Song, 1960s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Classic 12 bar blues by American, Big Joe, known for his characteristic style of guitar-playing, his nine-string guitar, and his bizarre, cantankerous personality.
Official classification: 12 Bar Blues, Song, 1960s, Audio, Blues, United States, Curriculum support
Full audio from Bonnie Raitt's debut album, opens with slide guitar riff.
Official classification: Song, 1970s, Audio, Blues, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs, Unit 15. Song
Full audio from 1987, features classic opening guitar riff.
Official classification: Song, 1980s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs, Unit 15. Song
Full audio. Song originally released in 1976 features classic synthesiser keyboard riff.
Official classification: Song, 1970s, Audio, Electronica, Pop, Curriculum support, Unit 3. Soundscapes, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
This shows different techniques that can be used when two vocalists share a rap, including drop-outs in the mix. The lyrics include examples of internal rhyming and double time flow. The time signature is unusual for rap, involving triplet patterns. This, along with the whistle sample, give the song a folky feel.
Curriculum area: Listening and understanding
Main focus: rap vocal techniques, triplets
Possible learning outcomes: pupils recognise various ways in which two vocalists can make a vocal texture more interesting
Official classification: Song, 2000s, Interactive Activities, Rap, Rapping, England, Track Explorer, Curriculum support, Hip hop, Hip Hop Coach
Tags: grace notes, compound time, doubling
Perhaps Incubus' biggest hit from 2000. Features acoustic guitar riff which opens and carries through the verse of the song.
Official classification: Song, 2000s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Full audio of song from Billy Idol's self titled album. Released in 1982.
Official classification: Song, 1980s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support
Full audio of 2002 hit built around a repeating piano riff.
Official classification: Song, 2000s, Audio, Rock, Pop, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Written in 1972 and featyring one of the most well-known and often-played guitar riffs in rock history.
Official classification: Song, 1970s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and features prominent electric guitar riff.
Official classification: Electric Guitar, Song, 1960s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Ideal example of protest song, with meaningful lyrics, written by Bob Dylan and released on his 1964 album of the same name.
Official classification: Song, 1960s, Singers, Songwriters, Audio, Folk, United States, Unit 19 Songwriter, Curriculum support
Excellent example of song from a Broadway musical, first staged in 2002, based on the 1988 film 'Hairspray'.
Official classification: Musical, Song, 2000s, Audio, Unit 19 Songwriter, Curriculum support
Classic rock guitar riff characterizes this track from Sabbath's second studio album Paranoid released in 1970, also features interesting tempo & rhythm shift for guitar solo.
Official classification: Tempo, Song, 1970s, Audio, Rock, Curriculum support, Unit 10. Hooks and riffs
Popular song from the 2006 Disney movie.
A good example of typical pop song song structure for KS2 pupils to listen to. Perhaps pupils in early KS3 may notice the key change in the latter half of the song.
Official classification: Song, 2000s, Video, Pop, Unit 19 Songwriter, Curriculum support
Popular song from the 2007 second movie in the Disney 'High School Musical' series.
KS2 pupils could watch and listen for the instrument sound that is missing from the band line-up (synth-strings) and the song structure. KS3 pupils may want to focus on the elements that make this a typical pop song sound.
Official classification: Song, 2000s, Video, Pop, Unit 19 Songwriter, Curriculum support
From the 1885 comic opera Mikado, sung by three female voices, accompanied by woodwind and string orchestra.
Example of a victorian song that became popular and regularly performed in music hall well into the twentieth century. Recommended for comparing with popular songs from other eras such as Nessun Dorma in QCA Unit 15 Song for KS3
Official classification: Opera, Song, The Romantic Period, Audio, United Kingdom, Victorian Times, Curriculum support, Unit 15. Song