What will I study in A Level Music?
Students experience 3 musical disciplines of:
- Performing
- Composing
- Appraising Music
Students will:
- Develop their performance skills through personal practice and attending ensembles/choirs
- Compose music
- Explore and analyse music from diverse genres and learn about harmony
Course Overview - Performing
This Unit gives pupils the opportunity to develop their already sophisticated performance skills by developing further their musicality.
Externally Assessed
30% of the qualification (60 marks)
Students must perform:
- A minimum of one piece, performed as a public performance
- The performance can be solo, as part of an ensemble, improvisation, realisation using music technology, or a combination of these
- Total performance time across the recital must be a minimum of of music
- Performances must be recorded after the 1 march in the year of certification i.e. 2018
Composing
- The purpose of this component is to assess students’ skills in composing music.
- Students will learn more of the processes involved in creating music through developing the technical and expressive skills needed by a composer.
Externally Assessed
30% of the qualification (60 marks)
Students must submit two compositions, of a combined duration of at least 6 minutes:
- One composition can be chosen from a list of briefs relating to areas of study, or a free composition, carrying 40 of the marks for the composing assessment. This composition must be at least 4 minutes in duration.
- One composition must be from a list of four briefs assessing technique, carrying 20 of the marks for the assessment. This composition must be at least 1 minute in duration.
Appraising
Written examination: 2 hours
40% of the qualification
100 marks
Content overview
- Knowledge and understanding of musical elements, contexts and language.
Application of knowledge through the context of six areas of study, each with three set works.
Where does A Level Music lead?
Students may be looking to undertake further study of music at university or have wider interests in the performing arts.