Music
Director of Music: A.P. Forbes BA LRAMHead of Academic Music: J.C. Arkell, MA (Warwick) FRCO FTCL FLCM FGMS FRSA
Course Specification: Edexcel 8MU01/9MU02
Music provides an opportunity to study European cultural heritage as well as other cultures across the world. Accordingly, the A level courses include a mixture of musical traditions and styles. Great emphasis is placed upon developing independence of thought and expression, a capacity for intellectual study, and greater personal awareness of the social and sociological factors that permeate the creation of music.
Most pupils will have successfully followed the GCSE course, although gifted performers or composers, after consultation with staff, could be accepted without GCSE Music. Those taking the course will be fully involved in practical music making, and so enthusiasm and dedication are essential. It is recommended that those taking Music at A Level should also take the Music Performance course. The A Level Music course is invaluable for those wishing to prepare for a music diploma.
Pattern of Assessment
| AS Unit 1 6MU01 Performing [15%] |
Pupils perform as soloists and / or as part of an ensemble. The music can be in any style and for any instrument and/or voice and should last for 5-6 minutes. |
| AS Unit 2 6MU02 Composing [15%] |
Pupils create a 3 minute piece in response to a chosen brief. Pupils describe their final composition and explain how other pieces of music have influenced it. |
| AS Unit 3 6MU03 Developing Musical Understanding 2 hours written exam [20%] |
This unit focuses on listening to music and understanding how it works. Pupils use a score to identify harmonic and tonal features and then apply this knowledge to the completion of a short passage for soprano, alto, tenor and bass. |
| A2 Unit 4 6MU04 Extended Performance [15%] |
Pupils to extend their performance skills as soloists and / or as part of an ensemble. Any instrument and / or voice are acceptable in a 12-15 minute assessed programme of music. |
| A2 Unit 5 6MU05 Composition and Technical Study [15%] |
The composition leads to a 3 minute piece in response to a chosen brief. The technical study section builds on the knowledge of harmony gained in Unit 3. Two tasks are required: one composition and one technical study or two compositions or two technical studies. |
| A2 Unit 6 6MU06 Further Musical Understanding 2 hours exam [20%] |
The focus is on listening to music and understanding how it works. The exam has three sections : Section A: Aural Analysis, Section B: Music in context and Section C: Continuity and change in instrumental music. |
Pupils who opt to take Music AS only will complete their examinations in the Trinity Quarter of the Lower Sixth.