Music is everywhere: it’s used in restaurants to make a relaxed atmosphere and stimulate conversation; it’s used to heighten dramatic moments in films and television programmes; and it often accompanies key moments in someone’s life. Research has shown how the heartbeat changes and mimics the music you listen to, and that listening to music releases the hormone dopamine (associated with feeling good). But why does music have such an effect? Our popular and highly engaging A Level Music course opens up the world of music, to find out why certain songs and pieces are the way they are. Old Stoic musicians include Harry Gregson‐Williams (the composer of Chicken Run and Shrek) and award‐winning composer Howard Goodall. Pupils study everything from the music of Batman and Psycho, to The Beatles and Courtney Pine, via Debussy, Bach and Mozart. They also get the opportunity to write their own music (including, for example a pop song or film soundtrack), and develop their skills in performing the music they enjoy. The course allows for all styles of music to be explored including Classical, Popular and Jazz. It is advisable for pupils wishing to take this A Level to be at least Grade 7 standard on one instrument before embarking upon the course. Pupils are expected to have Grade 5 Theory before taking this course. Pupils also simultaneously study for Grade 8 Theory during the course.