Music

Course summary

Music A Level is a fascinating and inspiring course which will support students to develop their skills in performing, composing and analyzing music. Students will explore new musical worlds in depth; Why did Bach write a piece of music based on a 200-year-old hymn tune? What does a piece for cello and electronics sound like? Why were The Beatles so popular? And what are the secrets of the music from the film Psycho? Students will be encouraged to explore their own areas of interest when composing music, be it electronic music and production, writing for a large ensemble, or something entirely different. Through all of this study, including pushing their instrumental or vocal performances to the next level, students will develop a critical and contextualized understanding of a vast range of musical styles and genres Type and Nature of the Work Involved By the end of Year 13 students will: • Perform a short recital on their chosen instrument or voice to an invited audience. The recommended standard for this recital is minimum Grade 7. • Compose a piece of music (either free composition or to a brief), and complete a brief assessing technique; options range from a remix task using Logic, to a traditional harmony exercise in the style of Bach. • Undertake a two hour written exam assessing students’ knowledge of the context and content of 13 set works and relevant wider listening. This includes two essay questions. Future Prospects • A level Music develops skills such as self-management, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication, all of which make it a valuable A Level when applying for any university course. • Students who wish to study Music at university have a wide range of options from performance-based courses to production courses to Music degrees which cover a bit of everything. Music graduates often go on to be performers or teachers or work with Art organizations but many also are highly successful in careers to Music because the transferable skills involved are so valuable.