A Level

In London

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    A Level

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    2 Years

Important information

Government funding available

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
St Charles Square, W10 6EY

Start date

On request

About this course

This is a highly practical course and involves at least 6 performances during the two years, however there is also a lot of written work to complete. A GCSE C grade in a performing arts subject (GCSE dance or drama, for example) is recommended. If you don't have a GCSE in a related subject, you should already have some practical experience in dance, drama, music or in all of these.

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Course programme


A2 Performing Arts
Level: AS/A2

Awarding Body: OCR AS H148; A2 H548

Course Content:
Students must be prepared to do an introductory course in the three separate skills of dance, drama and music. In the second term the student specialises in drama and dance, but will still be expected to use some music skills.

AS Level

Unit 1: Creating Performance - Coursework/practical performance - 35%
This looks at dance, drama and music and the ways in which they may work together. You will have to devise and perform three original short pieces (about 3 minutes long): one in each of the three separate skills and one longer piece which combines elements of all 3 art forms (to be performed in a community venue). The assessment is then based on a written commentary of this practical work and on the performance of the longer community piece.

Unit 2: Performance Contexts 1 - Written exam - 15%
You will have to write on two of the three skills; dance and drama. In dance you will look closely at the work of Lloyd Newson and DV8, choosing one dance piece to analyse in depth. In drama you will study one of the following practitioners: Caryl Churchill, Athol Fugard or John Godber and consider an in-depth study of one of their works.

A2 Level
Unit 3: Performance Contexts 2 - Written exam - 15%
Post-Modern Approaches to the Performing Arts since 1960;
The topic is broken-down into three art forms; dance, drama and music. Students study at least three extracts from a minimum of three practitioners. For example, you might study three of Prince's albums, three works by dance practitioner Lea Anderson and three plays by Steven Berkoff. The exploration is therefore both wide and deep.

Unit 4: Performance Project - Practical exam - 35%
In this unit you will undertake 2 performance assessments. These consist of:
· A performance realisation of one of the works you have studied for either Performance Contexts 1 or 2 (10%)
· A performance devised from a selection of twenty stimuli set by the examination board. (25%)
The final performances are usually in the early evening in front of an invited live audience and the visiting examiner. Students are interviewed before performing and it is expected that they should be able to talk with authority on the devising of their piece from the initial starting point. The performance should explore techniques and approaches learned during the course.

Teaching Learning Methods:
This is primarily a practical course enabling students to acquire performance skills and make creative links between the performing arts. Each of the art forms will be taught by specialist teachers and, in addition, there will be many occasions when visiting professionals will lead practical workshops at the College. It is demanding, as all 'A' Levels are, but the mixture of practical and written work that reflects upon the practical sessions makes it stimulating and exciting. There are high expectations. For example, students NEED to rehearse outside of lesson time and there is a dress code for practical lessons e.g. no jewellery.

Key Skills:
Performing Arts is concerned with a variety of forms of communication. These include verbal, physical and musical. There are opportunities for students to learn and provide evidence of how to:

- contribute to group discussions;
- organise and present information using a variety of techniques;
- select, explore and synthesise information;
- present information, including text and images.

Skills & Commitment:
The pre-requisite for the course is to have studied at least one of the three art forms. It is recognised, however, that all students will be starting from different points in each art form. You must be willing to work with others in a creative and disciplined atmosphere.

Cost:
Going to see live performance of dance, drama and music is an important and stimulating part of the course. These trips are heavily subsidised by the College but students are expected to contribute to their costs by making a compulsory payment of £30 at enrolment.

Progression:
Some students will go on to take Music or Drama or Dance at university, or as part of a Performing Arts course.

Complimentary Subjects:
This is a popular course and lots of students combine it successfully with (for example) English or Media Studies or Art. The fact that this is not a desk-based subject makes it an attractive third or fourth AS/A2 choice for many students.

A2 Performing Arts

Price on request