Music A Level

Before submitting your application to Wyke Sixth Form College, please ensure that you have added

1. Personal Details (including Home Address, Email Address and Contact Number)
2. A full list of all of your predicted grades

Without this information we will be unable to process your application and will refer this back to you until it is fully complete.

If you have a passion for music and wish to study it as an academic and practical subject, this course is for you. Through a diverse range of areas of study, you will learn about different historical perspectives on music, analysis skills pertaining to specific set works, aural awareness, music theory and the appreciation of different styles and genres that is so vital for any creative industry. The course also allows you to demonstrate your skill as a performer on your chosen instrument, and will allow you to explore compositional techniques in practice through your own composition work.

A Level Music is a challenging and academic subject, requiring and developing a wide variety of skills. The course is highly rewarding and the skills learned provide an excellent part of any academic portfolio for a large range of courses at university.

You will have four 70-minute lessons per week (three appraising and one composition). A performance seminar is also held once every fortnight, in which you take turns to perform in front of their peers to increase confident and work on performance skills. You should also be having lessons with a specialist instrumental/vocal teacher and are encouraged to arrange these through the college, thereby benefitting from the subsidy system.

COMPONENT 1: APPRAISING MUSIC (40%)

2 HOUR 30 MINUTE EXAM PAPER

The specification covers a range of music from Romantic piano music to musical theatre, art music of the last 100 years, and pop icons such as Beyoncé.

Students will cover the listening/aural test examples and all of the set works before the exam. The exam is split into three parts:

SECTION A: LISTENING

Three sets of questions. One set will be linked to Area of study 1: Western classical tradition 1650-1910, one of which will require aural dictation. The remaining two sets of questions will be linked to Areas of study 2-7. Students choose two of the six question sets available.

SECTION B: ANALYSIS

Two sets of linked questions including short answers and extended writing from Area of study 1 assessing understanding of musical elements and students’ abilities to make critical judgements.

SECTION C: ESSAY

One essay question from one area of study from a choice of Areas of study 2-7 referring to three of the named artists. This will assess critical understanding across genres, styles and traditions, and students’ ability to show connections between the music and its context.

COMPONENT 2: PERFORMANCE (35%)

A recorded performance in front of an audience.

Students must perform for a minimum of 10 minutes, and performances must be at Grade 7 or above to have a chance of getting the top marks. Performances are graded based on the ambition of the project, technical control, expressive control and performance quality.

Performances will be submitted to the exam board by May in the second year. In the first year, a mock version of these (5 minute performance) will be marked within the college using exam board guidelines.

COMPONENT 3: COMPOSING (25%)

Students will produce two compositions totaling a minimum of four and a half minutes. Composition for assessment must be completed under direct supervision within the college.

One composition will be in response to a brief from a choice of seven externally set briefs related to each Area of study. These may include stimuli such as a poem or piece of text, photographs, film or notation.

The second composition will be a free composition which need not reference an area of study or given brief.

Information on course specific and pathway specific entry criteria can be found on our website.

Students may continue to study music at either conservatoire or university, although, of course, the subject can be studied for its own sake. Music plays a huge part in our society and culture, and what you learn at A Level will enhance your appreciation of music and will stay with you for the rest of your life.