Fortissimo! is a key stage 4 music course to fit the new initiatives of the national curriculum with Performing, Composing, Listening and Appraising being an integral part. Structures and concepts are explored whilst offering opportunities to use and develop practical and aural skills. The material covers a wide variety of music from the 13th century to the 1990s and offers the chance to study musical styles and instruments from a variety of cultures. At regular intervals throughout the book, there are double-page colour spreads displaying fascinating visual stimuli material to spark off original ideas for composing and improvising. The Student's Book is accompanied by a Teacher's File and compact discs. The project also links in with an IT composition program called Notate.