The course will enable you to: ● Develop your performing skills to a high level through preparing and presenting recitals ● Develop your creative skills through composing briefs and in styles of your own choice ● Develop your theoretical and listening skills ● Understand how diverse pieces of music have been created, through learning about areas of study and set works ● Acquire the skills and experience to establish a lifelong passion for music
To study this subject, it is usual to have achieved GCSE music with at least a grade of 6. However, it is possible to take A-level Music without having studied GCSE music, provided that you can read music competently and have good practical skills on an instrument or voice (to around Associated Board / Rock School grade 5 standard or equivalent at the start of the course).
AS Component 1 Performing 30% Externally assessed by a visiting examiner - In this unit, you will perform solo or ensemble pieces in a performance lasting at least 6 minutes. - The choice of pieces is up to you but grade 5 is regarded as a ‘standard’ level of difficulty, with more difficult pieces gaining additional credit. Component 2 Composing 30% Externally assessed - In this unit, you will produce two compositions. One must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of the Western Classical Tradition (ie. Baroque, Classical or Romantic music) and be in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The second is a free composition. Component 3 Appraising 40% Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes For this unit, you will cover two areas of study: 1. The Development of the Symphony 1750 – 1830 This area of study focuses on the development of the symphony from the Classical era to the early Romantic era. 2. Musical Theatre This area of study focuses on the work of five musical theatre composers: Richard Rogers, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber. You will also study one set of work: Haydn, Symphony No. 104, ‘London’, movements 1 and 2 The examination includes set work analysis, extended responses in a wider context, and unprepared listening questions relating to the areas of study A Level Music allows you to specialise in either performing (option A) or composing (option B). Component 1 Performing 35% (option A) / 25% (option B) Externally assessed by a visiting examiner - Option A: you will perform as a soloist (plus as part of an ensemble if desired) in a performance lasting at least 10 minutes. - Option B: you will perform solo or ensemble pieces in a performance lasting at least 6 minutes. The choice of pieces is up to you but grade 6 is regarded as a ‘standard’ level of difficulty, with more difficult pieces gaining additional credit. Component 2 Composing 35% (option B) / 25% (option A) Externally assessed - Option A: you will produce two compositions. One must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of the Western Classical Tradition (ie. Baroque, Classical or Romantic music) and be in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The second is a free composition. - Option B: you will produce three compositions. One must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of the Western Classical Tradition (ie. Baroque, Classical or Romantic music) and be in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The second must reflect the musical characteristics of a different area of study (Rock and Pop / Musical Theatre / Jazz / Into the Twentieth Century / Into the Twenty-First Century). The third is a free composition. Component 3 Appraising 40% Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes For this unit, you will cover three areas of study: 1. The Development of the Symphony 1750 – 1900 This area of study focuses on the development of the symphony through the Classical and Romantic eras. 2. Musical Theatre This area of study focuses on the work of six musical theatre composers: Richard Rogers, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz. 3. Into the Twentieth Century This area of study focuses on the musical styles of the early twentieth century, which was a time of radical change and experimentation in music. You will examine styles such as Impressionism, Expressionism and Neoclassicism, and the work of composers including Debussy, Schoenberg and Stravinsky. You will also study four set works: Haydn, Symphony No. 104, ‘London’ Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’ Poulenc, Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Movement 2 Debussy, Three Nocturnes, Number 1: Nuages The examination includes set work analysis, extended responses in a wider context, and unprepared listening questions relating to the areas of study.
About Education Provider
| Region | East of England |
| Local Authority | Suffolk |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| Address | Castleton Way, Eye, IP23 7BL |
The course will enable you to: ● Develop your performing skills to a high level through preparing and presenting recitals ● Develop your creative skills through composing briefs and in styles of your own choice ● Develop your theoretical and listening skills ● Understand how diverse pieces of music have been created, through learning about areas of study and set works ● Acquire the skills and experience to establish a lifelong passion for music
To study this subject, it is usual to have achieved GCSE music with at least a grade of 6. However, it is possible to take A-level Music without having studied GCSE music, provided that you can read music competently and have good practical skills on an instrument or voice (to around Associated Board / Rock School grade 5 standard or equivalent at the start of the course).
AS Component 1 Performing 30% Externally assessed by a visiting examiner - In this unit, you will perform solo or ensemble pieces in a performance lasting at least 6 minutes. - The choice of pieces is up to you but grade 5 is regarded as a ‘standard’ level of difficulty, with more difficult pieces gaining additional credit. Component 2 Composing 30% Externally assessed - In this unit, you will produce two compositions. One must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of the Western Classical Tradition (ie. Baroque, Classical or Romantic music) and be in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The second is a free composition. Component 3 Appraising 40% Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes For this unit, you will cover two areas of study: 1. The Development of the Symphony 1750 – 1830 This area of study focuses on the development of the symphony from the Classical era to the early Romantic era. 2. Musical Theatre This area of study focuses on the work of five musical theatre composers: Richard Rogers, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber. You will also study one set of work: Haydn, Symphony No. 104, ‘London’, movements 1 and 2 The examination includes set work analysis, extended responses in a wider context, and unprepared listening questions relating to the areas of study A Level Music allows you to specialise in either performing (option A) or composing (option B). Component 1 Performing 35% (option A) / 25% (option B) Externally assessed by a visiting examiner - Option A: you will perform as a soloist (plus as part of an ensemble if desired) in a performance lasting at least 10 minutes. - Option B: you will perform solo or ensemble pieces in a performance lasting at least 6 minutes. The choice of pieces is up to you but grade 6 is regarded as a ‘standard’ level of difficulty, with more difficult pieces gaining additional credit. Component 2 Composing 35% (option B) / 25% (option A) Externally assessed - Option A: you will produce two compositions. One must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of the Western Classical Tradition (ie. Baroque, Classical or Romantic music) and be in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The second is a free composition. - Option B: you will produce three compositions. One must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of the Western Classical Tradition (ie. Baroque, Classical or Romantic music) and be in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The second must reflect the musical characteristics of a different area of study (Rock and Pop / Musical Theatre / Jazz / Into the Twentieth Century / Into the Twenty-First Century). The third is a free composition. Component 3 Appraising 40% Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes For this unit, you will cover three areas of study: 1. The Development of the Symphony 1750 – 1900 This area of study focuses on the development of the symphony through the Classical and Romantic eras. 2. Musical Theatre This area of study focuses on the work of six musical theatre composers: Richard Rogers, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz. 3. Into the Twentieth Century This area of study focuses on the musical styles of the early twentieth century, which was a time of radical change and experimentation in music. You will examine styles such as Impressionism, Expressionism and Neoclassicism, and the work of composers including Debussy, Schoenberg and Stravinsky. You will also study four set works: Haydn, Symphony No. 104, ‘London’ Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’ Poulenc, Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, Movement 2 Debussy, Three Nocturnes, Number 1: Nuages The examination includes set work analysis, extended responses in a wider context, and unprepared listening questions relating to the areas of study.