How to Teach Composition in the Secondary Classroom

Reviews / Votes

This book is bursting at the seams with practical, tried-and-tested classroom activities for supporting students in their composing development. The ideas are simple to read and offer enough flexibility to be adaptable to any situation. If you're looking for support with composition teaching, this resource will be your go-to! ~ Dr Kirsty Devaney, Composer & Music Education Researcher


Shapey is a veteran of the classroom, and this shines through in the text. Each of the 50 individual approaches are carefully laid out with starter activities, plenaries, learning outcomes, and, perhaps most excitingly, reference tracks... 50 inspiring ideas is much more than a collection of composition briefs. The book presents a carefully scaffolded plan for developing learners' creative faculties, musical ear, and, through these skills, knowledge of theory and instrumentation. Shapey is placing creativity back at the heart of the music curriculum, where it belongs... Shapey's ideas are crafted to engage and inspire students, embed intertextual discussions, and, perhaps most importantly, produce compositions which learners can be proud of, as well as ticking those omnipresent assessment objectives... This text is destined to become a well-thumbed addition to my collection, and one which my students will enjoy as much as I do. ~ Dale Wills, Music Teacher Magazine


This is a great book for any music teacher, containing a wide range of inspiring ideas to get your class composing. Ideas include authentic composing briefs, practical information on using rhythm and harmony techniques and sections on how to write and develop a melody. Many of the ideas can be used or adapted for KS 2 too and will prepare children for composition at KS 3 and beyond. This book is a mine of useful information! ~ Kay Charlton, Music educator/composer