Music GCE A Level

Course summary

This course follows the Edexcel specification and is designed to develop an all-round musician, expanding practical and theoretical knowledge covered at GCSE. You will be working to improve your performing skills by working towards an end of year recital which takes place at an external venue. You will learn how to compose your own music to a given brief and develop understanding of how to write for certain instruments and within certain styles. You will develop your knowledge of music and how other composers create masterpieces. Component 1: Performing Music This unit provides students an opportunity to showcase their performing skills on their main instrument. They will have to do a performance that lasts for 8 minutes and will have to be at Grade 6 standard and above. Component 2: Composing This unit encourages students to develop their composition skills leading to the creation of a piece which is a free composition inspired by their own instrument. Students will also have to complete a composition technical brief provided by the exam board. Component 3: Appraising This unit focuses on listening to familiar and unfamiliar music and understanding how it works. Set works from the anthology provide the focus of the exam, through listening and studying scores. They must be able to identify musical features through listening and write coherent essays about specific composers that they have studied throughout the course.