Ahead of Black History Month this October, I Can Compose has released a resource pack to help secondary school students explore music by Black composers.
Included in the resource pack, created by director Rachel Shapey with original artwork by Toby Potter, is a Google Slides presentation linked to the listening calendar, four pupil listening sheets for KS3-4, the calendar, and additional composers and further resources as PDFs.
The pupil listening sheets focus on Florence Price, Tracy Chapman, Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones.
Available to download for free without the resource pack, the listening calendar showcases 31 Black composers and includes Spotify playlists via QR code or weblink.
I Can Compose director Rachel Shapey said: ‘At I Can Compose, we are passionate about getting pupils listening to a variety of musical genres and styles by a diverse range of composers. We believe it is important that all young people can identify with a musician or composer.
‘Black History Month is an opportunity to highlight the extraordinary contribution to our musical culture of Black composers and to continue highlighting it beyond October. Our hope is that music by these composers will be integrated into music curricula around the country and ignite a passion for these pioneering composers.’
The full resource pack is included in the I Can Compose Gold and Platinum Access Plans, or can be purchased as an individual product for £24.
