The Musical Cookbook

Derek Mill

£85FormatHTML resourceISBN978 1 84070 453 2
  • Musical ‘recipes’ for composing in a variety of musical flavours
  • ‘Ingredients’ given for each recipe
  • Methods explained with clear instructions
  • Delicious music every time!

A real solution...

Finding simple guidance for composing music in a range of genres, suitable for different age groups, can be difficult. The Musical Cookbook offers a real solution. It contains a wealth of activities for composing in different music styles, for use with any age group. Organised over three levels to suit different abilities, the resource provides a thorough grounding in composition technique.

…and much more besides

Furthermore, through colourful handouts and Microsoft® PowerPoint presentations, The Musical Cookbook can be used to teach basic elements of music – topics include rhythm, pitch, notation, harmony and structure. The presentations are ideal for use with interactive whiteboards.

Variety and flexibility

Ideal for use with both music technology and acoustic instruments, The Musical Cookbook helps students generate ideas in particular musical styles, including:

  • Arabian
  • Baroque
  • Chinese
  • Comic, chromatic
  • Irish
  • Mexican
  • Mysterious
  • Romantic
  • Science fiction
  • Scottish
  • Vague, thoughtful
  • Waltz
  • 12-bar blues

Step-by-step guidance

Each ‘recipe’ includes ‘ingredients’ and a step-by-step ‘method’ – ideal either as a guide for teaching in composition or as an aid to independent study. Simple grid sheets are provided as a template for the composition – allowing students to use graphic or traditional notation.

Huge range of examples

Examples of completed recipes are provided as MIDI and as MP3 files. All the explanatory material can be viewed onscreen via a Web browser or printed out from special digital files provided.

About the author

Derek Mill is Head of Music at Lynn Grove High School, a voluntary aided fully comprehensive co-educational school and is an Advanced Skills Teacher in Music. He has presented a workshop at the DfES/NAME National Conference for Advanced Skills Music Teachers and has written several other titles for Pearson Publishing.