Music

Course summary

Units: 1. Performing: you will perform as a soloist, a member of an ensemble or as an accompanist and prepare a programme of at least three contrasting pieces with a total duration of 10 -15 minutes. 2. Composition: you will develop your composition skills leading to the creation of two compositions which need to have a combined duration of at least four minutes and thirty seconds. 3. Listening and Appraising: you will take a listening exam during the summer term of Year 13 (May or June). Preparation for this examination involves studying set works from a combination of Classical and Jazz repertoires. The first two sections of the examination will assess the student’s ability to answer questions about the music they listen to during the examination, including the set works. The third and final section is essay-based in which students are required to write two essays based on the two areas of study that they have learned about. Two areas of study are chosen by pupils from a choice of the following four: • Developments in instrumental jazz, 1910 to the present day • Religious music of the Baroque period • Programme music, 1820 - 1910 • Innovations in music, 1900 to the present day