The importance of music has been long recognised by great minds. It is said that Pythagoras discovered the relationship between music and mathematics by investigating why, when hammers of different weights were struck, the combinations of notes produced were consonant or dissonant. Music is also considered to be a language that expresses the soul as much as the mind, and an art form that can create sonic architecture paralleling the most spectacular cathedrals. By studying the Music A level course, you will develop a greater understanding of how music works. You will study its creation (composing), re-creation (performing), perception (listening skills) and appreciation (knowledge and understanding). You will learn to analyse it, to understand how notes are structured into chords and melodies, and chords and melodies into structures spanning minutes and even hours. In so doing, you will also discover how music intersects with other subjects, such as physics, geography, history and art. You will develop your current skills in performance, composition and musical appreciation. You will study set works, encountering music ranging from the classical to the popular and from around the world. You will create compositions in response to briefs set by the exam board, including practical work within traditional harmonic practices. You will demonstrate progress in performing skills and developing a coherent plan for a solo recital towards the end of the year. In the second year, all three components of the course continue to be extended and developed. Your composing will extend into work either on a new brief from the exam board or into an area of your own choice. Performance will develop a coherent plan for a solo recital towards the end of the course. New set works are studied.
To be eligible for the MPW University Foundation Programme you must: • Be aged 17+ at the start of the programme* • Entry requirements: Successful completion of local high school (either 11 or 12-year system) with good grades • Meet our English entry requirements: • January 2 term programme 5.5 IELTS or equivalent (with no less than 5.0 in any single band) – Pearson PTE (42-49), TOEFL iBT (46-59) or Cambridge (162) also accepted. • September 3 term programme 5.0 IELTS or equivalent (with no less than 4.5 in any single band) – Pearson PTE (36-41), TOEFL iBT (35-45) or Cambridge (154) also accepted. You should ideally have a good GCSE in Music, and a music theory qualification (eg Grade 5) is highly desirable. You need to have an active and wide-ranging interest in listening to and studying music of all kinds, as well as the self-motivation to carry out independent study. It is important to note that MPW is not able to offer instrumental tuition; you should arrange your tuition as a vital part of your preparation for the performance exams, and it is helpful if you are also regularly involved in some form of group music-making, eg at a Saturday music school or in a band.
The course comprises the same three components: performing, composing and appreciation/ understanding. For Component 1, you must perform a prepared programme of music towards the end of the two-year course as a soloist to a small audience. The programme must last a minimum of 8 minutes and will be recorded for submission to an external examiner. For Component 2, you must have composed two pieces lasting a total of at least 6 minutes. At least one of the pieces must be in response to a brief set by the exam board and both will be assessed by an external examiner. For Component 3 you will take a written exam in which you will be required to convey your knowledge and understanding of the set works, placing them in context and identifying their musical features. The exam lasts 2 hours. Components 1 and 2 are each worth 30% of the A level and Component 3 is worth 40% of the A level.
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Kensington and Chelsea |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £34,233 |
| Address | 90-92 Queen's Gate, LONDON, SW7 5AB |
The importance of music has been long recognised by great minds. It is said that Pythagoras discovered the relationship between music and mathematics by investigating why, when hammers of different weights were struck, the combinations of notes produced were consonant or dissonant. Music is also considered to be a language that expresses the soul as much as the mind, and an art form that can create sonic architecture paralleling the most spectacular cathedrals. By studying the Music A level course, you will develop a greater understanding of how music works. You will study its creation (composing), re-creation (performing), perception (listening skills) and appreciation (knowledge and understanding). You will learn to analyse it, to understand how notes are structured into chords and melodies, and chords and melodies into structures spanning minutes and even hours. In so doing, you will also discover how music intersects with other subjects, such as physics, geography, history and art. You will develop your current skills in performance, composition and musical appreciation. You will study set works, encountering music ranging from the classical to the popular and from around the world. You will create compositions in response to briefs set by the exam board, including practical work within traditional harmonic practices. You will demonstrate progress in performing skills and developing a coherent plan for a solo recital towards the end of the year. In the second year, all three components of the course continue to be extended and developed. Your composing will extend into work either on a new brief from the exam board or into an area of your own choice. Performance will develop a coherent plan for a solo recital towards the end of the course. New set works are studied.
To be eligible for the MPW University Foundation Programme you must: • Be aged 17+ at the start of the programme* • Entry requirements: Successful completion of local high school (either 11 or 12-year system) with good grades • Meet our English entry requirements: • January 2 term programme 5.5 IELTS or equivalent (with no less than 5.0 in any single band) – Pearson PTE (42-49), TOEFL iBT (46-59) or Cambridge (162) also accepted. • September 3 term programme 5.0 IELTS or equivalent (with no less than 4.5 in any single band) – Pearson PTE (36-41), TOEFL iBT (35-45) or Cambridge (154) also accepted. You should ideally have a good GCSE in Music, and a music theory qualification (eg Grade 5) is highly desirable. You need to have an active and wide-ranging interest in listening to and studying music of all kinds, as well as the self-motivation to carry out independent study. It is important to note that MPW is not able to offer instrumental tuition; you should arrange your tuition as a vital part of your preparation for the performance exams, and it is helpful if you are also regularly involved in some form of group music-making, eg at a Saturday music school or in a band.
The course comprises the same three components: performing, composing and appreciation/ understanding. For Component 1, you must perform a prepared programme of music towards the end of the two-year course as a soloist to a small audience. The programme must last a minimum of 8 minutes and will be recorded for submission to an external examiner. For Component 2, you must have composed two pieces lasting a total of at least 6 minutes. At least one of the pieces must be in response to a brief set by the exam board and both will be assessed by an external examiner. For Component 3 you will take a written exam in which you will be required to convey your knowledge and understanding of the set works, placing them in context and identifying their musical features. The exam lasts 2 hours. Components 1 and 2 are each worth 30% of the A level and Component 3 is worth 40% of the A level.
