Music Productions

Queensland Journal of Music Education
A 'must have' for your rock music unit.

As the name implies these texts address those styles which are not always dealt with to any great extent in our school library resource books. With opportunities for activities such as listening , composing, performing and improvising retro rock can be taken as a complete teaching package for a unit of work or could be used for single lessons. The authors have included teachers' notes with helpful ideas. Having recently searched with much frustration for more detailed information about some of these styles and matching them up with musical examples, I would have found this package a welcome teaching resource with its information and quiz section, appropriate arrangements in score form for young players and recorded examples. At the end of each style description there is a list of CD's or exponents of the style so that a school could select a set which would match the styles. The short quiz serves as a bank of fairly straight-forward knowledge based questions which teachers could build on for more extended analysis using application type questions relating to the scores in Part B.

The authors have composed the ten pieces for performance to demonstrate each style and each one is scored for instruments available among players in most classrooms. Some of the rhythms have syncopations which students frequently hear in popular music and others have a straight four to the bar. The simplicity of these would allow for improvisation, imitation and variation as the authors suggest. The scores vary as to the focus of the instrumentation which would require expertise from at least one section to hold the piece together well in performance. At the same time they allow for a spread of skills among the players with the more able ones doing the variations and improvising over simple patterns. The graphic chart for the arrangement on the recording can be reorganised so that students can decide themselves who plays which part in the cycle of repeats of the eight bars. These texts would be excellent for middle school classes up to Years 9 or 10 and could be used for all aspects of classroom activities, varying the instrumentation, with effective results.

This is an inexpensive, excellent resource package which you should consider adding to your library not only for a unit of extended study but also for those 'one off' lessons when you need some material for performing, composing or listening activities or all three!

Retro rock: Exploding Art Music Publications. Three components: Part A Style Guide, Part B Rock Scores and CD

Marj Milliken
QJME, Vol.6 (1) 1999. pp.65-66

New Zealand Society for Music Education
It is obviously designed for Years 7 - 10 (Forms 1 - 4), but looked like it might just work with younger children as well. It's an instrumental programme which relies to some extent on the availability of tuned percussion instruments, but parts are also written for Bb and Eb instruments, so you can use it with clarinets, trumpets, strings, keyboards, and tuned percussion. That makes it a versatile package for a wide range of school situations.

The format of the package is well conceived, with plenty of information for teachers covering historical background, musical descriptions, and a discography for each style. Of greatest appeal to me was the simplicity and usability of each arrangement, and the integrated approach of the whole package. There are opportunities for improvisation, focussed listening, aural training and structural analysis, research, and the opportunity to consider the various styles in their social context and period (which will ideally suit a strand of the new Arts Curriculum due out in early 1999).

The acid test is how well it works in the classroom. . .  I tried Glitter Glam with the first school and it worked! ... The piece worked because the contemporary sounds of the accompaniments had immediate appeal, with their overdrive guitars, drums, and synth timbres. It worked because it was simple. . . . The melodies are not too long, and they are catchy. It's a concept which is sort of neo-Orff, or post-Orff, if you like.

I left a copy with a couple of [classroom primary] teachers to see how they would manage without my direct input. One related later that . .  it was the combination of repetitiveness that made it accessible, and the variety of arrangements which made it interesting, which drew them [uninterested students] into playing along with the rest of the class. The other teacher reported that the piece he had used was very popular with the children as well.

The "rock scores" are clearly written . .  are accurate and easily followed. I hope the authors consider producing a second volume at some stage in the future. . . . It's very workable as is for the years 7 - 10 in the hands of any teacher with basic music literacy.

Selections from a review by Paul Wheeler
NZSME Journal No. 48, September 1998, pp. 24-26

The Australian Society for Music Education Journal
"These two books and CD are a great initiative by Brown and Dillon. The books cover the 'alternative' styles of Glam Rock, Jazz Rock, Rockabilly, Disco, Psychedelic Rock, Art Rock, Ska, Zydeco, Hip Hop, and Latin Rock. Each style is approached in a similar manner. In Part A: Background to the style, A Brief musical description to the style, Sample Discography, Style Quiz and Score and Listening Quiz (with reference to the CD and Part B scores).  Part B provides scores and parts for the ten selected 'alternative' rock styles with rock band accompaniments on the CD. For each piece there are both tuned and untuned parts.

The Introduction and Notes for the Teacher provide valuable assistance in the vast range of possibilities that this set offers. The set provides a resource for classroom music and/or junior ensembles.  It provides material for students to gain an understanding of the development of style in rock music through playing, study and reflection. It is refreshing to find writers that are willing to provide photocopy rights for school use. The possibilities available for the use are a great feature of the set. This set would make a welcome addition to the library of any teacher."

David Forrest - Melbourne, Australia

First impressions from New Zealand
"At last I've had a chance to try a bit of Retro Rock with some country children, just last week. I really like the concept, especially for lower secondary students, but wasn't sure how well it would go with a younger age group. I had the chance to put Glitter Glam into action with some 9 - 11 year olds, and they really took to it. The contemporary sound of the accompanying track appealed in the first two seconds."
Paul Wheeler - Dunedin

Methodist Ladies College - Creative uses!
"THANK YOU!!!!!

The books arrived today, and they are FABULOUS!  Exactly what I needed, and the scores will be terrific.  I already have plans to collaborate with our Art Specialist and Dance Specialist in a rendition of "ART ATTACK" with somehow enacting the whole 'Pictures' thing.  Thanks again,"

Methodist Ladies College - Perth, Australia