This workbook will help students gain the necessary skills and confidence to write a successful composition at GCSE.

A series of forms, styles and genres are covered, including music for special occasions, verse and chorus, ternary form, theme and variations, minimalism, rondo, musique concrete, film and programme music.

There are various exercises throughout, building in difficulty to help students gain the required level of knowledge to work towards their first composition.

Alan Charlton is a freelance composer. He was awarded the first ever PhD in Composition from Bristol University in 1997 and was the first Eileen Norris Fellow in Composition at Bedford School (1999–2002). He was head of music technology at Bedford School from 2000–2009 and is also an examiner for Edexcel.