Music is a subject which draws together a wide variety of skills which are able to help create the confident, able and responsible student Universities are looking for. You will develop performance skills (solo and/or ensemble), compose music and learn about harmony. You will build up your aural and analytical skills by studying selections of set works from all different genres of music, from Renaissance to Jazz. The full course is excellent preparation for higher education courses in music, but is equally valuable for non-specialists as a second or third area of study. We run a very full and varied extra-curricular programme which supports the performance element of the examination, which itself makes up 30% of the overall weighting. You will have the opportunity to enhance your ICT skills through use of both score-writing software and sequencing programmes plus recording equipment in the purpose-built music technology suite. Component 1: In this component students focus on their performance skills. They perform a live recital either as a solo or as part of an ensemble. The total performance time must be a minimum of 8 minutes of music. Technique, expressive control and expressiveness are all assessed in this unit. Component 2: In this component students focus on and develop their composition skills. One composition can either be chosen from six briefs relating to the areas of study, or students have the option to choose a free composition. This carries 40 of the marks for the composing assessment. The other composition must be from a list of four briefs assessing technique and carries 20 marks. Coherence, expressive control and technical control are all assessed in this unit. Students will also work on harmony skills. Component 3: Appraising In this component students focus on listening to and appraising a variety of pieces of music, familiar and unfamiliar, from 6 Areas of Study: Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Music for Film, Popular Music and Jazz, Fusions, and New Directions.