The Outstanding Composer: A Practical Guide for A-Level & GCSE Music

Course Code: T0403 £289.00

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This inspiring and practical course is built for all A-level and GCSE Music teachers, regardless of exam board or experience level. It explores the core principles behind high-scoring compositions, aiming to develop a shared language for quality and creativity in student work.   Delegates will be guided through classroom strategies that support students across the ability range, alongside deeper insights into assessment language and its practical application. From structuring the compositional journey to motivating reluctant composers, the day is filled with strategies to raise standards and build enjoyment.   

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

  • Explore tested methods for delivering successful composition teaching at GCSE and A-Level 
  • Learn adaptable approaches that support students at every level of confidence and experience 
  • Drive up outcomes with clear, creative structures and bold pedagogical thinking 
  • Demystify assessment language and learn how to embed it in everyday practice 

PROGRAMME

10.00am: Reframing Excellence in Composition 
  • What the latest exam board insights reveal about top-level work 
  • Going beyond mark schemes: high-impact indicators of quality 
  • Defining endpoints in the curriculum - values, aims, and core principles 

11.10am: Break   
11.30am: Tactical Teaching: Practical Starting Points 
  • Time pressures and curriculum overload: smart fixes rooted in research 
  • Designing briefs that invite creativity without falling into formula 
  • Building confidence: tackling the fear of the blank page 

12.30pm: Developing Compositional Thinking 
  • Rethinking how students plan – why it matters more than you think 
  • Drawing, diagramming and mapping: visual tools to inspire structure 
  • Delaying the ‘write-up’: cognitive benefits and time management wins 

1.00pm: Lunch 
1.45pm: Tracking Progress Without Killing Creativity 
  • When to speak, when to write - balancing feedback to boost motivation 
  • Marking models that don’t cut corners 
  • Common pitfalls in early assessment – and how to avoid them 

2.15pm: Refinement, Presentation and Performance Impact 
  • Clarity on the page: from typesetting to annotation choices 
  • How to communicate musical intent beyond the score 
  • Creative recording techniques: elevating the listening experience 

3.45pm: Depart   
A-Level - Code: T0403

The Outstanding Composer: A Practical Guide for A-Level & GCSE Music

COURSE LEADER

Jane Werry has been teaching for 30 years, and since 1999 has been Director of Music at Hayes School in Bromley. She is co-author of the award-winning Being a Head of Music: A Survival Guide, and is a frequent contributor to Music Teacher Magazine’s online resources. Jane is also a Specialist Leader in Education and a Musical Futures Champion Teacher.

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Course Brochure