“I have come in order that you might have life – life in all it’s fulness. John 10:10”
“In Music our curriculum is inclusive and is designed to stimulate and develop curiosity in a wide range of musical styles, including music from different cultures and periods in history.”
Miss M Jackson ~ Leader of Learning
Subject Leader: Miss M Jackson
Email address: m.jackson@becketonline.co.uk
What specification (syllabus) is being taught?
General overview
Unit 1: Appraising Music (40% of A Level)
This unit concerns listening to music and understanding how it works. Listening, analysis and contextual understanding. It has three sections, covering assessment objectives AO3 (knowledge and understanding) and AO4 (evaluative and critical judgements).
There is a wide choice of music for students to study, discover and be inspired by:
● Music for media – music from film and TV covering the evolution of the genre, including computer game music
● Music for theatre – musical theatre
● Western classical tradition – solo baroque concerto, Mozart opera and piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg
● Pop music – pop music includes artists for all musical tastes, from Joni Mitchell to Labrinth
● Jazz, contemporary traditional music and art music since 1910
Unit 2: Performance(35% of the A Level)
Consists of one 10–12 minute extended performance. Students offer a programme of music, performing as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble and/or music production (via technology).
Unit 3: Composition (25% of the A Level)
Composition, covering assessment objective AO2. Each student must compose two compositions:
● Composition 1: composing to a brief (25 marks)
● Composition 2: free composition (25 marks)
Who should take this course?
Studying at this level will enable you to develop further the skills learnt at GCSE or BTEC.
The music industry is thriving, and the skills you learn in A level Music could help you join this industry, as well as many other industries not directly linked to music.
In recent years Becket students have gained Oxbridge places and gone on to study medicine as well as at Conservatoires and Universities. A Level Music shows employers that you have persevered at developing a skill over a long term, a good trait to possess in the world of work.
What are the entry requirements?
It is preferable for students to have taken GCSE or BTEC Music before studying Music at A Level and have achieved a grade 5 or above. However, if you play an instrument well (at least to grade 5 standard), are a fluent reader of notation and have a good grounding in Music theory, then you may be able to take Music at this level.
What are the key topics and themes?
When will they be taught?
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes – Externally assessed by AQA .
Exam paper includes listening and written questions using excerpts of music and studying a range of set pieces.
● Section A – listening (60 marks)
● Section B – analysis (30 marks)
● Section C – contextual understanding (30 marks)
How will students be assessed?
When do these assessments take place?
The performance recital is recorded by Becket staff and externally assessed by AQA.
The composition is assessed by AQA.
What can students do for revision at home?
What materials are provided or available online?
Students will be provided with 2 course text books, copies of set works with audio plus a free instrumental / vocal lesson each week in school to support their performance work. Daily practice is essential for students working at this level.
YouTube
Opera North
BBC Music
Classic FM
