A2 Music Technology

Music Technology
This course follows the Edexcel (London exams) syllabus, which has been at the forefront of A level Music and Music Technology syllabus development since the 1980s. It is a requirement that you should have studied Music at GCSE level in order to take this subject, and to have achieved an A or a B grade in this. Basic keyboard (ie piano, synthesisiser, etc.) skills are also very useful. You will be invited to join one or more of the College ensembles, and to take part in the department's annual programme of performances.

Music facilities including a recital room with a wide selection of new instruments including 2 grand pianos. There is also a rehearsal room, 6 practice rooms (3 of which have a recording studio adjacent), 2 music technology IT rooms and a music technology drop in centre with IT equipment

What Will I Learn On This Course?

• The use of computer based technology to realise your own musical ideas, as well as creatively working with those of others.
• Recording with a combination of 'real' instruments and computer based MIDI tracks.
• Multi-track recording techniques in relation to a variety of popular musical styles.
• An understanding of the wider historical applications of music technology.

Course Content And Method Of Assessment

AS Level

Unit 1
Music Technology Portfolio 1 - A computer-based MIDI recording (sequence); an 8-12 track studio recording, and a computer-based arranging task. (Coursework 70%).

Unit 2
Listening & Analysing - The study of musical and technological developments through a range of popular music and jazz styles (Listening/written examination 30%).

A Level

Unit 3
Music Technology Portfolio 2 - A computer-based combined MIDI/audio recording (sequence); a 12- 16 track studio recording, and a computer-based composing task based on one of three briefs. (Coursework 60%).

Unit 4
Analysing and producing - An examination which explores the understanding of a range of musical and technological ideas, through the manipulation of audio and MIDI material on a computer workstation. (Listening/written/practical examination 40%).

After The Course

Apart from careers in the music industry there are also career opportunities for music graduates in many other fields including: the armed forces, radio and TV, law, advertising, accountancy, journalism, marketing, graduate entry to medical school...etc.

Subject Combinations

AS and A2 level Music Technology can be taken alongside any other subject at Advanced level. An increasing number of students opt to combine AS Music with AS Music Technology as a means of developing a broader range of musical experience during their time at College. Popular subjects taken alongside Music Technology include Computing / Information Technology, Physics, Electronics and Mathematics. There are many overlaps between Music Technology and IT, Physics and Electronics, making combinations of these subjects highly complementary.

Entry Requirements

5 GCSE A*- C. Whilst not essential, understanding of music theory to Grade 5 standard is considered highly beneficial in this subject. You will also be expected to have gained at least a grade C in GCSE Music.