AS/A2 Music

If you enjoy playing and composing music, and have a desire to learn more about how it actually works, then Music can be a very rewarding choice at AS or A2 Level.

Music is a versatile subject and can easily be combined with other subjects from the Arts, Languages, Sciences, Humanities and Maths. Music at AS and A2 Level is an incredibly diverse subject and allows you to develop a variety of skills that will be of use in other subjects, as well as in Higher Education and eventual employment.

An appreciation and understanding of music is also something, of course, that you can keep with you and enjoy for a lifetime!

Facilities

The Music Department consists of a large teaching/recital room complete with a Yamaha baby grand piano and fully-equipped computer workstations. Students also have use of all the recording studios and practice facilities. There are pianos or clavinovas in most rooms, and a selection of College instruments for use.

What are the entry requirements?

For students to feel comfortable with the demands of the AS/A2 Level course it is desirable that they have achieved at least a grade B at GCSE, or possess grade five or higher (Associated Board) on their main instrument. Grade five theory (Associated Board) is also strongly recommended, although not essential. It will be important to have a working knowledge of basic theory and notation, and a small informal assessment task may be set at enrolment.

What will I study and how will it be assessed?

We follow the EDEXCEL specification.

The A Level course, over two years, consists of six modules which, like GCSE, seek to enhance your performance and composition skills, and develop your understanding of a number of specific musical styles and genres.

The AS Level course simply consists of the first three modules, and can be taken in one year.

You will be expected to perform regularly, both as a soloist and within ensembles. Your performance work will be assessed through a 5-6 minute recording. You can perform as a soloist or ensemble player/singer, and the music can be in any style. Notated or improvised performances may be submitted, and the set standard for the AS performance is Associated Board/Rock School grade 5, or equivalent.

Composition, such an important area at GCSE, is continued at AS Level where you will learn how to critically appraise, refine, redraft, score and finally arrange performances of your work. Students will be assessed through a three minute composition and accompanying CD sleeve note, composed to a brief set by the board.

This unit focuses on listening to familiar music and understanding how it works. Set works from the Anthology provide the focus for the first two sections, while in the third section students will acquire a working understanding of harmony. This is the only module in the Lower Sixth to be assessed by an examination in May/June.

A2

An opportunity to extend the performance skills from Unit One, as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble. Students will present a 12-15 minute performance of a balanced programme of music, which will be recorded and assessed.

The composition section further develops students’ composition skills from Unit Two, leading to another 3 minute composition in response to a chosen brief. The technical study builds on the knowledge of harmony gained in Unit Three through pastiche studies. Students will complete two tasks in this unit: one composition and one technical study.

This unit focuses on listening to music, familiar and unfamiliar, and understanding how it works. Set works from the Anthology provide the focus for much of the unit. Like for Unit Three, assessment is through an examination in three sections, in June.

How is it taught?

Classroom activities in A Level music are necessarily varied. It is very important that wherever possible, new concepts and ideas are explored practically as well as theoretically, in order to enhance understanding. Students will be set smaller weekly homework tasks designed to build on the knowledge and understanding developed in the formal sessions. In addition, larger projects, such as compositions or performance preparation, will be ongoing assignments, assessed at regular intervals. Materials and resources exist on the College VLE, and in the Learning Resource Centre for independent study, and students are encouraged from an early stage to utilise these regularly.

Does music link particularly well with any other subjects?

Music links very well with a wide variety of other subjects, and indeed students usually choose to take it either as part of an overall arts/social science programme, or as an extra complementary subject in a science or maths-based programme of study. It sits very well with other performing arts/media based subjects, and of course with music technology!

Extra-curricular music

The Jazz Combo and SJD Singers rehearse weekly and perform regularly. There are also opportunities for smaller chamber ensembles to rehearse together.

It is hoped that music students will contribute fully towards the extra-curricular musical activities available, both as performers and even possibly, as directors!