Ten Pieces is a music education scheme created by journalist Katy Jones for BBC Music which began with a namesake film hosted by Barney Harwood created for CBBC that originally aired on 3 October 2014. The film serves as an introduction to classical music for children and is, in that respect, similar to the Fantasia films. But unlike Fantasia, the music is set to a live BBC National Orchestra of Wales rather than animation.
Programme
Ten Pieces I - Primary
The first in the series, Ten Pieces I was released in 2014.
A Ten Pieces Prom was performed in early July 2015 and was broadcast on CBBC as "CBBC @ the Ten Pieces Prom" on 2 August 2015. Barney, Dan and Dick & Dom were the only celebrities from the film to appear in the prom version with Friday Download's Molly Rainford as the only new celebrity to host the prom alongside them.
Mars
Symphony No. 5
Short Ride in a Fast Machine
"Storm" from Peter Grimes - dance performed by the boys of St. Joseph's College, Ipswich
Zadok the Priest - choir performed by the Ten Pieces Children's Choir.
Connect It
Night on Bald Mountain
Horn Concerto No. 4
Volcano, Equinox and 6/Ten Pieces - New pieces created exclusively for the prom by Chase Bridge Primary School, Twickenham; St. Mary's Primary School, Maguiresbridge and Withycombe Raleigh Primary School, Exmouth.
The BBC announced a sequel to Ten Pieces to be used in secondary schools. Called Ten Pieces II, this film was originally aimed at pupils aged 11+ and premiered in 2015. The film itself first aired on 26 December 2015. This time, it was hosted by BBC Radio 1's Clara Amfo, with the music performed by the BBC Philharmonic and is dedicated to Katy Jones who died of a brain haemorrhage. Using a mix of live action and animation, each piece is introduced by a celebrity presenter.
The segments of Ten Pieces II were later split into separate shorts under the name Ten Little Pieces. shown throughout the week of 30 May 2016 to 3 June 2016.
Proms version
Like with the first film, a Ten Pieces II prom was performed late July 2016 and was shown through live stream on BBC Red Button on 24 July 2016. With coverage from Michelle Ackerley, presenters Naomi Wilkinson, Dion Dublin and Lemn Sissay return from the film to host the prom, alongside Dan Starkey as a fictionalized version of Haydn, whilst also featuring a storyline involving Ride of the Valkyries featuring Leah Boleto from Newsround. A televised version, "CBBC @ the Ten Pieces II Prom", aired on 11 September 2016.
Toccata and Fugue
Symphony No. 10 - dance performed by the Wildern School of Southampton
New teaching resources for the third phase of the project were released in September and October 2017. The resources for 7-14 year-olds include short films presented by Lemn Sissay and CBBC's Naomi Wilkinson, classroom lesson plans and simplified arrangements.
