Music is essential to many of our lives. It can bring us joy and motivate us, accompany us through difficult times, and alleviate our worries. It has been a feature of every known human society. Many evolutionary psychologists today make the argument that music predated language. Not only does music reach us on intellectual, social, and emotional levels, but many describe it as spiritual or mystical. The use of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices in music can induce a psychological state in both the musicians and the listener that is beyond what words can describe. If you wish to go to university or to a conservatoire to study Music, then A-level Music is necessary. It is also usually required for Popular Music and Music Technology courses. It is also relevant and well-regarded when applying to a wide variety of other courses such as those in the Humanities and Arts, as a good grade at Music A level reflects a broad range of skills and experiences including creativity, analysis, essay writing, teamwork, interpersonal skills and public performance. In addition to the obvious career paths of Musical Performers, Composers, Conductors, or Teachers, people with A-level music can be found in a huge variety of jobs including Journalism, Broadcasting Media, Theatre Production, Politics, Publishing, Law, Arts Administration, Architecture, Business, and Banking.
GCSE Requirements • At least three grade 7s or above • At least three grade 6s or above • At least grade 5 in English and Maths • The required grade at I/GCSE in the qualifying subject/s required for their chosen courses – see the Qualifying Subjects.
The Music course further develops and strengthens the skills of composition, analysis and performance covered in the GCSE. It is a highly regarded course, which will complement any set of subjects since it requires confidence, clarity of thought, rigour of practice, and analytical thinking. The course includes focused work on the analysis of music, the development of aural perception, performance, and composition. There are three components: Performance (35%); Composition (25%); Appraising (40%). For Performance, you must record 10-12 minutes of music as an instrumentalist or singer. This must be recorded between the 1st March and 31st May of the exam year. This can be solo and/or ensemble work. The portfolio submitted is marked by AQA and 10% of the marks are reserved for level of difficulty. Students should be aiming, by the Lent Term of Year 13, to be able to submit work that is of at least Grade 7 ABRSM standard, but ideally of Grade 8 ABRSM standard or above. For the Composition component, you will further explore the techniques encountered at GCSE level. You will study: melodies and examine how motifs can build phrases; the use of inversion, retrograde, diminution and augmentation to build melodic ideas; 4-part harmony in Chorale style, cadences and modulation, and how chords are built from the scale and can be extended and altered; use of pedals and ostinati; use of sequence; use of texture and orchestration; development of contrapuntal melodies. You must compose two pieces, one to a brief from a choice of seven set by AQA, the other a free composition. The briefs range from Bach chorale harmonisation to composition with specified motifs, setting of a text, a pop or rock piece based on a given bass line, a piece of film music to a specified storyboard, to a jazz piece based on a given chord progression. You must complete a log describing your compositional thinking and reflection for the composition to a brief. For the Appraising component, you will study Western Classical Music from 1650-1910, Music for Media, and Music for Theatre. Within the Western Classical Music unit, you will focus on three strands: Baroque solo concerto; operas of Mozart; and Romantic piano music. The set works for these strands are: • Purcell, Sonata for trumpet and strings Z.850 • Vivaldi, flute concerto RV248 • Bach, violin concerto in A minor BWV 1041 • Mozart, The Overture and 8 numbers from Act 1 of The Marriage of Figaro • Chopin, Ballade no. 2, and Nocturne in E minor op.72 no.1 • Brahms, Intermezzo op.118 no.2, and Ballade in G minor op.118 no.3 • Grieg, Norwegian march op.54 no.2, and Notturno op.54 no.4 Through the study of these set works and the three areas of study, you will develop your aural perception, your ability to analyse and write critically about music and your contextual understanding of music. This will be examined in a 2-hour 30-minute exam comprising listening questions and essay questions.
About Education Provider
| Region | London |
| Local Authority | Waltham Forest |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Co-Educational |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | Unknown |
| Sixth Form Fee | £17,247 - £24,555 |
| Address | College Place, Snaresbrook, London, E17 3PY |
Music is essential to many of our lives. It can bring us joy and motivate us, accompany us through difficult times, and alleviate our worries. It has been a feature of every known human society. Many evolutionary psychologists today make the argument that music predated language. Not only does music reach us on intellectual, social, and emotional levels, but many describe it as spiritual or mystical. The use of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices in music can induce a psychological state in both the musicians and the listener that is beyond what words can describe. If you wish to go to university or to a conservatoire to study Music, then A-level Music is necessary. It is also usually required for Popular Music and Music Technology courses. It is also relevant and well-regarded when applying to a wide variety of other courses such as those in the Humanities and Arts, as a good grade at Music A level reflects a broad range of skills and experiences including creativity, analysis, essay writing, teamwork, interpersonal skills and public performance. In addition to the obvious career paths of Musical Performers, Composers, Conductors, or Teachers, people with A-level music can be found in a huge variety of jobs including Journalism, Broadcasting Media, Theatre Production, Politics, Publishing, Law, Arts Administration, Architecture, Business, and Banking.
GCSE Requirements • At least three grade 7s or above • At least three grade 6s or above • At least grade 5 in English and Maths • The required grade at I/GCSE in the qualifying subject/s required for their chosen courses – see the Qualifying Subjects.
The Music course further develops and strengthens the skills of composition, analysis and performance covered in the GCSE. It is a highly regarded course, which will complement any set of subjects since it requires confidence, clarity of thought, rigour of practice, and analytical thinking. The course includes focused work on the analysis of music, the development of aural perception, performance, and composition. There are three components: Performance (35%); Composition (25%); Appraising (40%). For Performance, you must record 10-12 minutes of music as an instrumentalist or singer. This must be recorded between the 1st March and 31st May of the exam year. This can be solo and/or ensemble work. The portfolio submitted is marked by AQA and 10% of the marks are reserved for level of difficulty. Students should be aiming, by the Lent Term of Year 13, to be able to submit work that is of at least Grade 7 ABRSM standard, but ideally of Grade 8 ABRSM standard or above. For the Composition component, you will further explore the techniques encountered at GCSE level. You will study: melodies and examine how motifs can build phrases; the use of inversion, retrograde, diminution and augmentation to build melodic ideas; 4-part harmony in Chorale style, cadences and modulation, and how chords are built from the scale and can be extended and altered; use of pedals and ostinati; use of sequence; use of texture and orchestration; development of contrapuntal melodies. You must compose two pieces, one to a brief from a choice of seven set by AQA, the other a free composition. The briefs range from Bach chorale harmonisation to composition with specified motifs, setting of a text, a pop or rock piece based on a given bass line, a piece of film music to a specified storyboard, to a jazz piece based on a given chord progression. You must complete a log describing your compositional thinking and reflection for the composition to a brief. For the Appraising component, you will study Western Classical Music from 1650-1910, Music for Media, and Music for Theatre. Within the Western Classical Music unit, you will focus on three strands: Baroque solo concerto; operas of Mozart; and Romantic piano music. The set works for these strands are: • Purcell, Sonata for trumpet and strings Z.850 • Vivaldi, flute concerto RV248 • Bach, violin concerto in A minor BWV 1041 • Mozart, The Overture and 8 numbers from Act 1 of The Marriage of Figaro • Chopin, Ballade no. 2, and Nocturne in E minor op.72 no.1 • Brahms, Intermezzo op.118 no.2, and Ballade in G minor op.118 no.3 • Grieg, Norwegian march op.54 no.2, and Notturno op.54 no.4 Through the study of these set works and the three areas of study, you will develop your aural perception, your ability to analyse and write critically about music and your contextual understanding of music. This will be examined in a 2-hour 30-minute exam comprising listening questions and essay questions.