6th Form: GCE Advanced Music

Course description

This is a course for all kinds of musician, based on a balanced range of styles both historical and contemporary. It is a course that suits performers, composers and those who like to listen. As an AS student you will prepare a range of solo and ensemble performances throughout the course and compose one original work choosing from a broad range of stimuli. You will learn how to use harmony effectively and develop advanced aural and analytical skills. At A2 you can choose to focus on composition or stylistics alongside broadening and deepening your performing, aural and essay writing.

Throughout the course you will:
• prepare a range of solo and ensemble performance work
• develop the skills required to analyse and compose stylistically
• develop your skills as a composer
• develop your knowledge of music across a wide range of genres and its context in history
• learn how to write and talk about music accurately and critically

AS Units:

Unit 1
In this unit your musical expertise will be assessed through a 5-6 minute programme of solo and ensemble performance based on music of your choice.
Unit 2
For this unit you will produce a 3 minute original composition with score, recording and CD sleeve notes.
Unit 3
The course concludes with a 2 hour written exam based on a listening paper which tests your understanding of a variety of musical styles and your understanding of chords and lines.

A2 Units:

Unit 4
In this unit your musical expertise will be assessed through a solo or ensemble recital 12-15 minutes.
Unit 5
You may choose between either 2 compositions, or 2 stylistic techniques.  If you wish you may choose a combination of one of each.
Unit 6
3 hour written exam:
• listening paper
• music in context
• continuity and change in musical styles.

Career Possibilities

Studying Music at Advanced Level is recognised as one of the best ways of developing creativity, confidence, self-reliance, self-discipline, leadership and team skills - qualities sought by today's employers. Even of you are not considering Music as a degree subject or future career, it is a widely accepted additional A level in Higher Education as a result of these characteristics. The course naturally leads on to study of Music or Music Technology at university or specialist music school, though the latter will also require a playing or singing ability beyond the requirements at A level as places at the top institutions are highly sought after by both British and overseas students.

GCSE Grade Profile

Students who wish to study Music Technology at this level should normally have A* to C grades in a range of subjects at GCSE level, with at least a B grade in Music. However, equivalent experience, which should include the ability to read notation and play to Grade 5 standard, will be con