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What is Ten Pieces Trailblazers?

Ten Pieces Trailblazers challenges students to rethink orchestral music - what it sounds like, who can make it, and how it's used - through ten trailblazing composers and their pieces of music.

This new set of pieces showcases works that have helped expand our musical horizons, pieces that have introduced new cultures and sound worlds into the orchestra, and composers whose lives and works have made them pioneers.

Trailblazers delves into the world of Film and Television for the first time and explores music with influences from across the globe

Orchestral music is a living, evolving art form. These pieces help to tell that ever-changing story.

Do you want to be a Trailblazer too? Create your own Trailblazing poem using 'You can't do that!' by Simon Mole as inspiration. Upload your creative responses to our uploader! Subtitles available.

Discover Trailblazers with:

Films & Media

Exciting new introduction and orchestral films and downloadable MP3s to support you in your teaching.

Subtitles available for Trailblazers intro films.

Lesson Plans

Six weeks of learning and activities, customisable to you, aided by PowerPoint presentations.(For Primary/ KS2/ 2nd Level & Secondary/ KS3/ 3rd & 4th Level)

Arrangements

Our instrumental arrangements simplify our compositions so they can be played by classes/ensembles with mixed abilities.

The Pieces and Resources:

Trailblazers: GraĆŒyna Bacewicz – Overture

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer GraĆŒyna Bacewicz, who broke new ground as a female composer in Poland.

Trailblazers: GraĆŒyna Bacewicz – Overture

Trailblazers: Johannes Brahms – Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Johannes Brahms who was inspired by Hungarian folk music.

Trailblazers: Johannes Brahms – Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor

Trailblazers: Delia Derbyshire – Doctor Who Theme (original theme by Ron Grainer)

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Delia Debyshire who launched a whole new world of music.

Trailblazers: Delia Derbyshire – Doctor Who Theme (original theme by Ron Grainer)

Trailblazers: George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt)

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer George Gershwin who composed music full of the energy and playfulness of New York City in the 1920s.

Trailblazers: George Gershwin – Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt)

Trailblazers: Florence Price – Symphony No. 1 in E minor (3rd mvt)

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Florence Price who overcame prejudice to become the first black female composer to have her work performed by a major orchestra.

Trailblazers: Florence Price – Symphony No. 1 in E minor (3rd mvt)

Trailblazers: Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians (excerpt)

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Steve Reich who helped to invent a whole new form of music: minimalism.

Trailblazers: Steve Reich – Music for 18 Musicians (excerpt)

Trailblazers: Ravi Shankar – Symphony – finale (excerpt)

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Ravi Shankar who shared his passion for the sound and traditions of Hindustani classical music with the whole world.

Trailblazers: Ravi Shankar – Symphony – finale (excerpt)

Trailblazers: Heitor Villa-Lobos – Bachianas brasileiras No. 2, The Little Train of the Caipira (finale)

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Heitor Villa-Lobos who brought the instruments, rhythms and melodies of his home, Brazil, into the concert hall, creating a vibrant, exciting new sound.

Trailblazers: Heitor Villa-Lobos – Bachianas brasileiras No. 2, The Little Train of the Caipira (finale)

Trailblazers: Antonio Vivaldi – ‘Winter’ from ‘The Four Seasons’, Allegro non molto (1st mvt) video

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Antonio Vivaldi, one of the first people to compose music that was designed to remind listeners of places and things in the world around them.

Trailblazers: Antonio Vivaldi – ‘Winter’ from ‘The Four Seasons’, Allegro non molto (1st mvt)

Trailblazers: Hans Zimmer – Earth

Classroom resources for Ten Pieces Trailblazer Hans Zimmer, who has created unique and powerful soundtracks that have influenced a whole generation of musicians.

Trailblazers: Hans Zimmer – Earth

Easy Ways to Get Started with Trailblazers

For quick and easy ways to bring Trailblazers in to your classroom explore our additional content below.

Click to download some short, simplified lessons and activities so you can Get Started with Ten Pieces Trailblazers in the classroom no matter your experience.

 Are you new to teaching Music?

Trailblazers on ±«Óătv Sounds. audio

All the Ten Pieces Trailblazers in one easy place for you to enjoy in this ±«Óătv Sounds mix, presented by Jess Gillam.

Trailblazers on ±«Óătv Sounds

Download Radio 3's specially curated mix of the Ten Pieces Trailblazers for the perfect 30 minute playlist for the classroom

Trailblazers on In Tune's Classical Music Mixtape

Host Your Own Film Screening!

As an easy introduction in to Ten Pieces Trailblazers, we’re asking schools and organisations across the UK to host their own film screenings of our 10 exciting introduction films.

Host Your Own Film Screening!

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