Music A-Level

Course summary

Developing and applying the musical knowledge, understanding and skills in the A-Level Music exam can help you form a personal and meaningful relationship with music. You will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music and musical contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities. Area of Study 1: Appraising Music This provides an appropriate focus for you to appraise, develop and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of musical elements, musical contexts and musical language. You will study 3 units from the following: • Western classical tradition 1650–1910 • Pop music • Music for media • Music for theatre • Jazz • Contemporary traditional music • Art music since 1910 Area of Study 2: Performance You must be able to perform music using either or both: • Instrumental/vocal: as a soloist, and/or as part of an ensemble • Production via music technology. Area of Study 3: Composition You must learn how to develop musical ideas, including extending and manipulating musical ideas, and compose music that is musically convincing through two compositions. These must demonstrate technical control in the use of appropriate musical elements and how they are combined to make sense as a whole.