Department resources

We are building an exciting bank of resources for music lovers of all ages and abilities. On this page, you will find a range of activities which are not specific to any instrument. For something a bit more specific to your instrument family, use the links further down the page.

Get practising

Miss Coles Patent Practice Techniques – a whole playlist of videos to help you get the most out of your practise – on any instrument!
Goal trackers – these sheets are perfect for your fridge door, so you can see exactly how much practice you’re doing!
- See the whole list here: all goal trackers
- park design tracker
- plant design tracker
- under the sea design tracker
- plain and simple tracker
- circle goal tracker
Benedetti Foundation – daily challenges

Look after your instrument!

Brass instruments:

How to oil valves (except for French Horns!)
French Horn:
- how to oil valves and grease slides
- how to empty the water
How to put a trombone together

String instruments:

How to restring your cello

Musical activities

Dynamics – colour in according to the key
Wordsearch – musical terms 1
Wordsearch – more musical terms!
Wordsearch – how well do you know your grade 1 theory terms?
NMdoku – a musical sudoku!
Match the definitions – a few Italian terms to learn
Anagrams – you might find these words in your grade 1 exam
Scale dice – a physical way to learn your scales

Create your own music

Making your own music…

Kitchen percussion – anything you can make a sound with can be an instrument!
You name it – use a code to help you write a melody
Spider Caterpiller Bee – using bugs and other images to create rhythms
Song writing challenge – write your own song and the NMPAT Music Production team might even record it for you!
Chrome Music Lab – build your own band with a huge range of sounds available
Ableton – creative tools to support your in your music-making
WIRED online – free music technology educational online resource from YSWN, for girls, women and minority genders between the ages of 11-25

Brass

Warming up is really important! Just like warming your body up before a running race, it helps your muscles to prepare for playing. These videos are just one minute long and are a great addition to your practice routine: