Music

Music can change the way that people feel and act. It can provide opportunities for personal expression, reflection, and emotional wellbeing. It develops thinking, increases perception, imagination and creativity and physical coordination: skills which can then be transferred to other areas of experience and learning.

Course Content – Year 12

Component 1: Performance

This gives students the opportunities to perform as soloists and/or as part of an ensemble. Any instrument(s) and/or voice(s) are acceptable as part of an 8-minute assessed performance. (30%)

Component 2: Composition

This encourages students to develop their composition skills leading to the creation of 2 pieces: one in response to a free-choice brief and one in response to a given brief. The pieces will total around 4½ minutes in length. (30%)

Component 3: Developing Musical Understanding

Students studying a variety of set works from 6 areas of study with 3 set works in each area. They analyse the works in detail to understand the composition process and develop their listening skills. This unit consists of an end-of-year external listening exam, 2 hours in duration. (40%)

Course Content – Year 13

The course comprises of three components:

Component 1: Performance

This gives students the opportunities to perform as soloists and/or as part of an ensemble. Any instrument(s) and/or voice(s) are acceptable as part of an 8-minute assessed performance. (30%)

Component 2: Composition

This encourages students to develop their composition skills leading to the creation of a piece in response to a free-choice brief. In addition, students will complete a technical assessment on composition knowledge. The pieces will total 6 minutes in length. (30%)

Component 3: Developing Musical Understanding.

Students continue studying a variety of set works from 6 areas of study with 3 set works in each area. They analyse the works in detail to understand the composition process and develop their listening skills. This unit consists of an end-of-year external listening exam, 2 hours in duration. (40%)

Is this course right for me?

If you have an interest and enjoyment of music and want to become familiar with and confident across a range of musical knowledge, key skills areas and vocabulary. You will benefit through a sense of enjoyment, achievement and discovery in the learning process and through performance.

Course highlights

Playing at numerous events and productions.

What can I do next?

A level Music can be taken further to study at degree level at University or College. This may lead into careers such as performing, teaching or composing music. Careers in Sound Production and Lighting also require the type of training that A level Music provides.

Music can also supplement your application for employment or further study. Our musicians have to demonstrate excellent discipline and commitment to their work that displays their skills that can be transferred into the workplace or place of study.

Subject minimum entry requirement

Minimum of Grade 5 standard or equivalent on your chosen instrument.

“I like the fact that Music is so different to the other subjects that I am doing. It makes a nice change.”

“Having to study pieces in depth sounds hard but it is actually very interesting, and you get a lot of ideas for your own composing.”

“A level Music has helped me in various ways, from practising my harmonisation skills, to analysing numerous pieces of Music from different genres. As challenging as it can be, it has taught me the importance of Music as a whole and how I can improve my performances.”

“A level Music has helped me to improve my confidence and ability to perform in front of an audience as either a soloist or in group performances.”]

For more information please contact:

Miss E Cockshott

Subject Leader of Music