When DJing, Andy C puts his whole heart into creating the most mind-blowing mixes. You should take the same approach to your creative writing. When you pack yo... Read More...
Let's listen to some brilliant songs and then write a poem with real focus on rhyming for effect!
MUSIC FOCUS: Ayra Starr, Coldplay, Charli XCX, Icona Pop,... Read More...
One Step Closer make real ART. We should definitely spend some time diving into the band's lyrics. So poetic and so powerful!!
MUSIC FOCUS: One Step Closer... Read More...
We love the way Bow Anderson speaks directly to her body. Let's use her song as inspiration for a serious - but very fun - writing activity!
MUSIC FOCUS: B... Read More...
Rhyming words is a lot fun! Let's find some exciting vocabulary and then pair it up with other vocab that is equally full of energy!
MUSIC FOCUS: Eminem.
... Read More...
When we read a text, we have to consider the time at which it was written. We need to understand whether the author's ideas aligned with the majority - or if t... Read More...
Let's make sure that practising the skills needed to complete AQA's Language Paper 2 is fun for us!! Today, we're going to listen to Louis Dunford's 'North Lon... Read More...
Madonna's music a made an enormous impact. Let's think about how her songs hit even harder than they might have otherwise because of the world - Ronald Reagan'... Read More...
Following our work on the 'Location, Location, Location' series, the amazing Chiara wrote a truly beautiful song. She thought carefully about the setting and h... Read More...
Explore the significance of disappointment in SZA’s ‘Kill Bill’.
Read the 'Kill Bill' lyrics and prep by considering the 3 questions directly below.
Dec... Read More...
With Slam Dunk just a month away, here's a list of our favourite Against The Current tracks! See if you agree with our choices, then have a go at the activity ... Read More...
Sound of Pen student, Sophie, writes soooo beautifully. Here are the opening chapters to the story she's been working on. Prepare to be DAZZLED!
Chapter 1
... Read More...
Soooo many albums that made our hearts whoosh! Here's a list of the best 20 long-players of 2023...
MUSIC FOCUS: The best albums of 2023.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Com... Read More...
Short and very, very sweet - here are the EPs that made us jump up and down the most in 2023!
MUSIC FOCUS: The best EPs of 2023.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Come up with... Read More...
MUSIC FOCUS: Holding Absence, Taylor Swift, Against The Current, YONAKA, Chrissy Costanza, Lil Lotus & Olivia Rodrigo
ACTIVITY FOCUS: Analysing quotati... Read More...
Soooo much music that made our hearts go BOOM! Here our the best 75 songs of 2023...
MUSIC FOCUS: The best releases of 2023.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Come up with you... Read More...
You know what they say about the things that come to those who wait...
MUSIC FOCUS: Ankor; Blaze The Trail.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Write your own review.
Ankor &... Read More...
MUSIC FOCUS: Proper, Machine Gun Kelly, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, The Cure, Kittie, Ava Max, LOLO, Maggie Lindemann.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Develop your understand... Read More...
Language Paper 2 is TOUGH - in large part because it revolves around extracts written in that more challenging Victorian style. For now, then, let's concentrat... Read More...
MUSIC FOCUS: Taylor Swift.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Explode the quotes from 'folklore'!
…Ready for it?
ACTIVITY 1
How does Taylor Swift use 'folklore' to explor... Read More...
MUSIC FOCUS: YUNGBLUD.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Write your own essay about the significance of a character, theme or artist of your choice!
Listen here to some of th... Read More...
OKAAAAY. THIS CLASS IS NOT FINISHED - PLEASE CAN YOU HELP!!
PICK A TAYLOR SONG FROM OUR TOP 52 (LISTED BELOW) AND WRITE A SHORT REVIEW! IN THAT REVIEW, YOU... Read More...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqKb7dIVZq8
Music: 'Your Hand In Mine' by Explosions In The Sky
MUSIC FOCUS: YUNGBLUD.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Focus on that word 's... Read More...
The Sound of Pen students spent two sessions listening to 'folklore' and exploring the position of women in love. Here's an essay built from the ideas discusse... Read More...
The Sound of Pen students spent a session exploring the significance of love in Taylor Swift's 'dorothea'. Here's an essay built from the ideas discussed durin... Read More...
Both Louis Dunford and William Blake write about London in a way that makes us feel so strongly about the city. Let's compare 'The Angel (North London Forever)... Read More...
So many of our favourite songs are as multi-layered as any of the texts we study in school; with the new term dawning, we listed the best tracks of the year so... Read More...
So many of our favourite songs are as multi-layered as any of the texts we study in school. With the new term dawning, here are the tracks that have already kn... Read More...
So many of our favourite songs are as multi-layered as any of the texts we study in school. With the new term dawning, we listed the best tracks of the year so... Read More...
Lots of our favourite songs feature scarves, photos, makeup and all sorts of other 'props'. But, why are they there?! What is their purpose?! Let's find out, s... Read More...
In recent years, rock music may have been buried out of sight. Thankfully, it's likely to return to the frontline at just about the same time as you perfect yo... Read More...
Listen to the brilliant Andrew McMahon and then have a think about your own brilliant life!
MUSIC FOCUS: Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin, Andrew McMah... Read More...
As part of his preparation for this year's GCSE English Language exams, Orson wrote about an issue close to his heart. If you don't already care about record s... Read More...
Of course, both our reviews of 'Suicide and Sunshine' focus on the fact that it's an utterly brilliant album! But let's look more closely at how Daisy and JC c... Read More...
Trophy Eyes, ‘Suicide and Sunshine’ (Hopeless Records)
Think about the truly important albums: Nirvana’s raw yet resplendent ‘Nevermind’; Biffy Clyro’s hear... Read More...
We went to Slam Dunk and it was the PERFECT day. Read our review, then write about your own perfect experience.
MUSIC FOCUS: Enter Shikari; Malevolence; PVR... Read More...
Today, the best Australian band of modern times are going to help you with your 'Power & Conflict' poetry. How lovely of them.
MUSIC FOCUS: Trophy Eyes.... Read More...
Our New Favourite Band Injects Us With (Greased) Lightning!
MUSIC FOCUS: Beauty School Dropout.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Practise the skills needed to answer question... Read More...
Let's think about how the final moments of Slam Dunk will hit harder because of the songs you've enjoyed during the earlier parts of the day!
MUSIC FOCUS: M... Read More...
Accelerate your ability to analyse poetry - and deepen your appreciation of the female position - with a quick study of 'Better Man'.
MUSIC FOCUS: Ellie Go... Read More...
Sound of Pen classes use music as a doorway to a deeper understanding of GCSE & A-Level English texts.
Sound of Pen is home to original, unique free les... Read More...
Why do things happen in the order they do? Who can say? YOU can. Or, at least, you will be able to once you've completed this class!
MUSIC FOCUS: PVRIS, Sin... Read More...
Glastonbury! Exactly the kind of important event we should write about when asked to write about something important!
MUSIC FOCUS: Glastonbury Festival.ACTI... Read More...
Ava Max sings songs that dissect the concept of power whilst making you feel like you can take on the world. Perfectly meta.
MUSIC FOCUS: Ava Max.ACTIVITY F... Read More...
Question 5 AQA's Language Paper 2 will require you to write a letter, speech, essay, article or leaflet text. Let's practise the leaflet writing.
MUSIC FO... Read More...
It's been a while since Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde wrote their novels about humanity's duality. But the conversation is NOT over...
MUSIC FOCUS:... Read More...
The first time Linkin Park came to England, I got to hang out with them for a couple of days. This is a story inspired by my love for the band.
MUSIC FOCUS:... Read More...
"Music ignites all areas of child development... particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills." (UNICEF)
MUSIC FOCUS: MASSIVE ATTACK... Read More...
Sometimes the world can feel slightly too angry. Let's use today's persuasive activity as an opportunity to channel our positive energy!
MUSIC FOCUS: Zurich... Read More...
Sometimes, when studying English Literature, it can feel like the experience of love will be utterly joyless. Soooo much pain!
MUSIC FOCUS: Prospa, Taylor S... Read More...
Our top ten songs about rain are all GORGEOUS. But what do they mean? What does the rain symbolise?
MUSIC FOCUS: Taylor Swift, Pale Waves, Paramore, Tove Lo... Read More...
When Avicii died in 2018, we lost an artist capable of brightening the darkest day. We're so grateful for the music he left behind. Uplifting and poignant, Avi... Read More...
The texts we study are so full of dreams. Which sounds lovely. But - like love - dreams are complicated, unwieldy things. Here are the ten songs you should lis... Read More...
Walls aren't simply walls. They're symbols of power, traps within which we confine ourselves - and that's not all. Our favourite artists are here to help us in... Read More...
When YUNGBLUD hit Wembley, he showed everyone exactly how to put on an arena show! Stadiums next, surely?!
MUSIC FOCUS: YUNGBLUD.ACTIVITY FOCUS: Explore the... Read More...
