The music which pupils compose is usually based on a scale. Different scales change the flavour of the music immediately. To demonstrate this, write a tune and try it out using different scales or modes (if you also play different triads with the tune, you may need to make some adjustments to the triads to avoid the diminished triad in different modes).

The vast majority of the examples in The Musical Cookbook are given in the key of C major or A minor. However, pupils may be aware of, and wish to use, other key signatures. This is good and should be encouraged. On recipe sheets where the pupils are told to start and end on CEG or ACE, any other key and tonic chord can be substituted.

Pupils need to know the tempo before they can embark on their composition.

This provides information on the kind of note values that should be used in the music.

Guidance on whether the music should be played at a high or a low register.

Most recipes involve music for more than one part, eg tune, triads, bass part, percussion, etc.

Suggestions are provided on the best sounds/instruments to use to bring out the ‘flavour’ of the recipe.

A list of triads is provided for most recipes.

Advice is provided on how to adapt the music to enhance the ‘flavour’ of the music.

Lists the handouts you may need when teaching the recipe. Most recipes include a recipe sheet to give to pupils, and a grid on which to write the music.

Provides advice on following the recipe to create the music, giving support to the method on the pupil’s recipe sheet.

Guidance on extending the work completed.

If there are any special points to note about performing a particular recipe, these are listed here. Also provided are suggestions for adapting the music for groups of different sizes and for different instruments.

Offers guidance on using computers to transcribe and perform the music.

In most recipes, sound files are provided demonstrating music in that particular style. Where possible, the sound files have been provided as MIDI files (in music software programs such as Sibelius_® or Cubase_®, you can view the score of the music at the same time as listening to the MIDI file, and edit the score as appropriate) and MP3 files. A score of the music is provided in PDF format as well.

It is well worth building up a collection of listening materials, including CDs, DVDs, videos, etc which demonstrate the various styles included in this resource. If you hear a piece and immediately think of a style, make a note of it and use it in your lessons. At the end of each recipe is a list of sample pieces to listen to, to get the flavour of each style. These could be used to introduce the topic.