RCM Level 9 history asks students to know the Baroque era in real detail—its defining features, its key terms, and a set of dates that are easy to confuse and easier to forget. Flashcards are the tool that turns that memory load into something a student can actually chip away at, a few minutes at a time. But before the drilling, it helps to see the whole era in one piece.
Start with the big picture
Before a student memorises anything, I want them to have a mental map of where the Baroque sits and what makes it distinct. This overview video walks through the Level 9 history material at a level that is useful for orienting a student—or for a parent trying to understand what their child is studying.
To turn that big picture into something on paper, I use fill-in-the-blanks overview worksheets that lay out the whole of Level 9 or Level 10 history before a student dives into any single era. They build the framework the details then hang on.
RCM 9 History Overview
A structured fill-in-the-blanks overview that builds a foundation across the whole of Level 9 history.
History 10 Overview Chart
A fill-in-the-blanks overview that lays out the whole of Level 10 history at a glance.
Then drill the Baroque: the flashcards
Once a student has the map, the Baroque flashcards do the focused work. The set covers the required Baroque era terms and important dates for RCM Level 9 history, designed to print double-sided so students can write definitions on the back and self-quiz. Dates and glossary terms are exactly the kind of material that rewards short, repeated review rather than one long cram.
Baroque Era Flashcards
A glossary and dates flashcard set covering the required Baroque era terms for RCM Level 9 history.
If a student memorises terms before they understand where the Baroque fits, the facts have nowhere to attach. The overview gives them the structure; the flashcards fill it in.
How I use them in lessons
- Fill the overview together. We complete the overview worksheet early, so the student has a one-page map of the era before any memorising starts.
- Print flashcards double-sided. Term or date on the front, definition on the back. The act of writing the definitions is itself a first pass of study.
- Short, frequent review. A few minutes of self-quizzing each lesson and at home beats a single long session. Dates in particular need spaced repetition to stick.
- Watch the overview for context. I point families to the video so a student can hear the era described, not just read it—especially helpful for those who learn better by listening.
Putting it to work
Use the overview worksheets to build the framework, the video for context, and the flashcards for the ongoing memory work. Together they cover the Baroque era from the big picture down to the specific terms an exam will test. They sit alongside the rest of the music history resources for the other eras and required listening.
More music history support
Explore the full set of music history resources—era charts, composer references, glossary tools, and required-listening study sheets built for lessons and exam prep.
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