Music A-Level is a study in the language of sound, looking at why and how composers have used particular sounds and combinations of sounds for particular effects. It is exciting and diverse as we study music from across the spectrum of styles from Classical music to Popular music from the present day, looking at which techniques the composer has used and the historical context that has led them to make these choices. Music combines academic study with performance and composition to create a varied A-Level which demonstrates a vast range of skills and knowledge. Music A-Level develops your understanding of how music works and develops your critical analytical skills, your evaluative skills, your ability to develop and argument, your performance skills and your skills in creating new music. A-Level musicians will study a range of music set into three areas of study: The ‘Western Classical Tradition’, ‘Rock and Pop’, and ‘Into the Twentieth Century’. In addition to this, students will study composition and performance. The course is designed to allow students to choose whether they want more weighting to composition or performance towards their final grade. Music lessons will be very varied – we maybe looking at the development of the Classical Symphony during the turbulent times of unrest in 18th and 19th Century Europe, or the extensive changes to pop music in the 1960s leading to an explosion of genres and styles. Some lessons will be looking at applying musical techniques to compositions, or looking at how a particular technique can inform our own performance.