Music

Assessment

Component 1: Appraising Music • 40% of A Level (listening, analysis and contextual understanding). • This consists of one written exam (2 hours and 30 minutes). • Students must study Area of Study 1 (Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910) and two other Areas of Study, from Pop Music to Music for Media, Music for Theatre, Jazz, and Contemporary Traditional Music or Art Music since 1910. Students must be able to use knowledge and understanding of the musical elements within each genre, namely melody, harmony, tonality, structure, timbre, texture and rhythm. Component 2: Performance • 35% of A Level (solo and/or ensemble as instrumentalist or singer). • A programme of pieces lasting between 10 to 12 minutes in total performed as a portfolio. It is anticipated that pieces of Grade 6 level will be marked as a ‘standard’ level of difficulty; pieces above this will attract weighting of an extra 2-4% in marks. Performances are marked concerning Technical Control (pitch, rhythm, tone, ensemble skills) and Expressive Control (tempo, dynamics, phrasing, articulation). Component 3: Composition • 25% of A Level. • Two compositions to be completed, lasting between four to eight minutes in total. •Composition 1: Set to a brief (Bach Chorale) •Composition 2: Free composition