Ten Pieces on Radio 2
What is Ten Pieces?
Ten Pieces is an exciting year-long project from BBC Music which aims to get primary school children interested in - and excited about - classical music.
As the name suggests, the project uses ten different classical pieces (dating from the early 17th century to the present day) to introduce the world of classical music.
The project launches with nationwide screenings for schools of a specially made film which mixes special effects, animation and live orchestral perfomance to introduce the ten pieces. There will be special programmes across BBC TV and Radio to celebrate the launch of the project.
What's on Radio 2
![]()
Katie Derham joins Ken Bruce
Each weekday from 29 September - 10 October, Radio 3's Katie Derham joins Ken to give a beginners guide to one of the pieces.
![]()
Classical Music changed my life
On Tuesday 7 October, Jeremy Vine discusses the classical music that you heard as a child and have never forgotten, or a piece of music that you heard as a child and it changed your life.
![]()
Nicola Benedetti
Internationally acclaimed classical violinist Nicola Benedetti is an ambassador for the Ten Pieces project. She joins Steve Wright on Friday 3 October.
![]()
Listen to the Band
On 9 October, Frank Renton will play brass band arrangements of some of the ten pieces, with a guest appearance by Classical Brit winning trumpeter and Ten Pieces ambassador Alison Balsom.
![]()
Friday Night is Music Night
On Friday 10 October, Ken Bruce presents a special concert featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra performing the Ten Pieces. That same day Ken will join Chris Evans for Breakfast to preview the concert.
![]()
Ten Pieces in schools
On Thursday 9 October, Ken Bruce's programme will feature a special report from Lynn Bowles who visits one of the schools participating in Ten Pieces.
Related Links
The Ten Pieces
• John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
• Beethoven 5th Symphony (1st movement)
• Britten: Storm from Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
• Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt)
• Handel: Zadok the Priest
• Holst: Mars from The Planets Suite
• Anna Meredith: Connect It
• Mozart: 4th Horn Concerto (3rd movement)
• Mussorgsky: Night on the Bare Mountain
• Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (finale)
Ten Pieces film trailer
Watch the Ten Pieces I trailer
A cinematic film designed to introduce a generation of children to classical music.
