Music

Assessment

Component 1: Appraising Music – 40% of the A-level The 7 areas of study, provide an appropriate focus for students to appraise music and develop and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of musical elements, musical contexts and musical language. The areas of study can also provide a rich source of material for students to work with when developing performance and composition skills. Music students study a compulsory area of study— Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910, and a choice of 2 from the following: - Pop Music - Music for Media - Music Theatre - Jazz - Contemporary Traditional Music - Art Music since 1910 Students have the freedom to choose 2 areas of study which suit their own personal preference, experience and interest. Component 2: Performance – 35% of the A-level Students develop their skills as a musical performer throughout the A-level course. You can perform on any musical instrument or you can sing either as a soloist or in an ensemble. You will perform a set of pieces of your choice, with or without accompaniment, lasting a minimum of 10 minutes. This unit is externally assessed using a recording of your performance at the end of year 2. Component 3: Composition – 25% of the A-level In this unit you will learn the craft of composing. You will develop musical ideas in the form of two compositions totalling a minimum of four and a half minutes. You must write one composition in response to a set brief (based on the areas of study above) by AQA and one composition to a Free Brief of your own choice. All work is completed under supervised conditions and students must produce a musical score in traditional notation or written form, a 150-word programme note and a set of high quality recordings. Work is externally assessed at the end of year 2.