The AQA Music A Level offers pupils an exciting opportunity to develop advanced musical skills. The course is ideally suited to those with excellent performance skills who are passionate about actively listening to a wide range of music, as well as writing their own pieces. Pupils will develop their theoretical understanding of music, study a wide variety of genres including opera, musical theatre, romantic piano music and music in the 20th Century. The interconnected skills of appraising, performing and composing music are all developed during the course and benefit each other. Pupils taking the course are usually studying two instruments and working towards or beyond Grade 8 level.
For 16+ entry into our Sixth Form, your daughter will be required to sit three examination papers during the first week of November in the year prior to entry. Two of these papers are in subjects which your daughter is currently studying, or which she wishes to study in the Sixth Form at Downe House, as well as a General paper. These examinations are usually taken at your daughter’s current school and practice papers are available on request. Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of seven I/GCSE examinations at Grade 6 (B) or above, preferably with Grade 9/8 (A*) in those subjects she wishes to study in the Sixth Form. If your daughter does not follow an education system with formal examinations at 16+, further testing may be required and a transcript of grades acquired from their previous school. On completion of examination papers, successful candidates will be invited for an interview by the Head of Sixth Form and the Headmistress at the end of November. Offers will be made in December. There are also a number of scholarships available for pupils joining the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend early registration for your daughter. All offers and places are completed by April of the year prior to entry and availability of places in our Sixth Form is very limited.
The course is divided into three areas and is assessed through a combination of coursework and written examination. All components of the A Level course are examined at the end of Upper Sixth. Component 1: Appraising music Three areas of study will be covered to prepare for this examination. The sole compulsory area is Western classical music and includes the study of the solo concerto in the Baroque era, the operas of Mozart in the Classical era and the piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg from the Romantic era. The other two areas of study are chosen from the following six options; Pop music, Music for media, Music for theatre, Jazz, Contemporary traditional music or Art music since 1910. This written paper is divided into three sections. For the first section, pupils will develop listening skills in order to answer questions based on unfamiliar works from the same genres as those studied during the course. The second section of the exam assesses analytical skills based on set works studied during the course from the Western classical music Area of Study. A skeleton score of an extract of a set work from each era of study will be provided and questions will be based on the musical features of this work. The third section of the exam requires a written essay response on one of the optional areas of study. Component 2: Performance There are a range of performance options for this section of the course. Pupils are able to choose from one of the following options to record and be assessed; instrumental/vocal solo performance, ensemble performance and music technology production. In total performances must last for at least ten minutes in total and recordings will take place between 1 March and 15 May of the A Level year. Component 3: Composition During the A Level music course pupils are required to compose two musical works. One is in response to an externally set brief and the other is an entirely free composition. The combined duration of both works is a minimum of four and a half minutes. Compositions will be completed using computer software and the musical score and recordings will be sent to the examiner, along with a programme note for each piece.
About Education Provider
| Region | South East |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £47,760 |
| Sixth Form Fee | Day £35,520 |
| Address | Cold Ash, Thatcham, RG18 9JJ |
The AQA Music A Level offers pupils an exciting opportunity to develop advanced musical skills. The course is ideally suited to those with excellent performance skills who are passionate about actively listening to a wide range of music, as well as writing their own pieces. Pupils will develop their theoretical understanding of music, study a wide variety of genres including opera, musical theatre, romantic piano music and music in the 20th Century. The interconnected skills of appraising, performing and composing music are all developed during the course and benefit each other. Pupils taking the course are usually studying two instruments and working towards or beyond Grade 8 level.
For 16+ entry into our Sixth Form, your daughter will be required to sit three examination papers during the first week of November in the year prior to entry. Two of these papers are in subjects which your daughter is currently studying, or which she wishes to study in the Sixth Form at Downe House, as well as a General paper. These examinations are usually taken at your daughter’s current school and practice papers are available on request. Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of seven I/GCSE examinations at Grade 6 (B) or above, preferably with Grade 9/8 (A*) in those subjects she wishes to study in the Sixth Form. If your daughter does not follow an education system with formal examinations at 16+, further testing may be required and a transcript of grades acquired from their previous school. On completion of examination papers, successful candidates will be invited for an interview by the Head of Sixth Form and the Headmistress at the end of November. Offers will be made in December. There are also a number of scholarships available for pupils joining the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend early registration for your daughter. All offers and places are completed by April of the year prior to entry and availability of places in our Sixth Form is very limited.
The course is divided into three areas and is assessed through a combination of coursework and written examination. All components of the A Level course are examined at the end of Upper Sixth. Component 1: Appraising music Three areas of study will be covered to prepare for this examination. The sole compulsory area is Western classical music and includes the study of the solo concerto in the Baroque era, the operas of Mozart in the Classical era and the piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg from the Romantic era. The other two areas of study are chosen from the following six options; Pop music, Music for media, Music for theatre, Jazz, Contemporary traditional music or Art music since 1910. This written paper is divided into three sections. For the first section, pupils will develop listening skills in order to answer questions based on unfamiliar works from the same genres as those studied during the course. The second section of the exam assesses analytical skills based on set works studied during the course from the Western classical music Area of Study. A skeleton score of an extract of a set work from each era of study will be provided and questions will be based on the musical features of this work. The third section of the exam requires a written essay response on one of the optional areas of study. Component 2: Performance There are a range of performance options for this section of the course. Pupils are able to choose from one of the following options to record and be assessed; instrumental/vocal solo performance, ensemble performance and music technology production. In total performances must last for at least ten minutes in total and recordings will take place between 1 March and 15 May of the A Level year. Component 3: Composition During the A Level music course pupils are required to compose two musical works. One is in response to an externally set brief and the other is an entirely free composition. The combined duration of both works is a minimum of four and a half minutes. Compositions will be completed using computer software and the musical score and recordings will be sent to the examiner, along with a programme note for each piece.