A/AS Music

A/AS Music

What is Music?
This course allows you to study music in an integrated way. Both AS & A2 courses allow you to study music as a practical, intellectual and creative subject, exploring Performing & Composing. The courses also recognise that we live in an age of cultural diversity and the Areas of Study reflect this with a wide range of music studied.

Is Music suitable for me?
Past experience suggests that those with an interest in the subject outside of college â€" jazz band, youth orchestra, church choir, rock band etc - are more likely to be successful. The better students tend to have an interest in, and perform, a wide variety of music.

Current students tend to find performing the most enjoyable part of the course [there are monthly student recitals, three end of term concerts, and numerous external concerts/jazz band gigs], closely followed by composing [during the AS course, students have the opportunity to write a number of short exercises - in many styles, for themselves and their friends to play].

When asked about the toughest part of the course, students were equally divided between written work [in which analysing music is completely new to most students, as it is not undertaken at GCSE] and aural [which is much more in depth than at GCSE].

How will I learn?
i) Aural: classroom lessons to involve singing, listening to music in a structured way, writing down melodies & listening to harmonies. Some private study using Aurelia on the college music computers;

ii) Developing Musical Understanding: classroom lessons to involve analyses and how to listen perceptively to works from the Anthology of Music. Written work will be set after each lesson;

iii) Composing: after analysing some of the pieces from the Anthology of Music, short compositional exercises will be set, imitating the pieces analysed. These may be written using Sibelius software. Composition work will be set each week.

iv) Performing: offers you the opportunity to perform as a soloist and/or in ensembles. You are free to choose music in any style, and any instruments and/or voices are acceptable.

How will I be assessed? AS Music
i) Performing [30%]: perform one or more solo pieces lasting 5/6 minutes either as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble; recorded, internally assessed & externally moderated;

ii) Composing [30%]: a) produce a three minute piece to a chosen brief during a 15 hour period; & b) in a 1 hour exam, answer three questions to provide information that could be used for a CD sleeve note to accompany your composition - externally assessed;

iii) Developing Musical Understanding [40%]: a 2 hour listening paper â€" externally assessed, divided into three sections; a) listening; b) investigating musical styles & c) understanding chords & lines.

A2 Music
i) Extended performance [30%]: perform as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble. Any instruments and/or voices are acceptable as part of a 12-15 minute performance of a balanced programme of music; recorded, internally assessed & externally moderated;

ii) Composition and Technical Study [30%]: complete two tasks either 1 composition & 1 technical study or 2 compositions or 2 technical studies; externally assessed.

iii) Further Musical Understanding [40%]: a 2 hour listening paper â€" externally assessed, divided into three sections; a) aural analysis; b) music in context & c) continuity and change in instrumental and applied music.

Progression
James studied for A levels in Maths, Music & Music Technology. As well as being a member of The Jazz Factory, he was also a member of the college†s Big Band, Chamber Orchestra, Choral Society, Composers Ensemble, New Music Ensemble and Jazz Band, whilst outside college he was a member of the Hampshire Youth Jazz Orchestra and local jazz quintet Instant Poetry. From September 2009 James will study jazz drumming at Middlesex University.

Laura studied for A levels in Music & Music Technology. As well as being a member of The Jazz Factory, she was also a member of the college†s Brass Ensemble, Big Band, Chamber Orchestra, Choral Society, Composers Ensemble, New Music Ensemble and Jazz Band, whilst outside college she was a member of NYJO, local jazz quintet Instant Poetry and the Fuse Collective. Recent projects included work with Tomorrow†s Warriors Jazz Orchestra and studio sessions with soul/blues singer QuBee. From September 2009 Laura will begin a 4 year undergraduate programme, studying jazz trumpet at Trinity College of Music.

Course costs
i) A number of CDs will be required for recording performances & compositions;

ii) The Anthology of Music [about £25], an Aural Workbook [just under £10] & the Student Guide to AS Music [about £20] is recommended; iii) The department organizes a number of wide ranging trips throughout the year. Whilst it is difficult to put a price on these, students ought to set aside between £40 and £50 a year for these optional visits;

iv) Whilst all students studying AS & A level Music will be provided with a weekly free of charge instrumental lesson, the college does not have a supply of musical instruments.

If the costs of equipment, materials and trips may cause you financial hardship, there is the opportunity to apply for help from the College Access Fund.

Course: EDEXCEL 8MU01/9MU01

Print view | To top

Entry Requirements
Whilst there is no prescribed knowledge for this course, it is recommended that students should have shown themselves capable of a level of practice and understanding equivalent to that of a grade C or above in GCSE Music. However, we are happy to accept Grade V Theory PLUS Grade V on an instrument in lieu of a C grade in GCSE Music.

Students' Work

• A2 Recitals:
• Molly Carew-Jones - Ellington: It Don't Mean a Thing
• Sarah Carlstedt-Duke - Ian Clarke: Sunday Morning
• Jayne Chuter - Prokofiev Gavotte Op. 32
• Chris Colbran - Ory's Creole Trombone
• Laura Jones - Have you met Miss Jones

• Performing through the Course:
• Lanty Chafer and Sam Gardner - Victor Wooten: You Ain't Got No Groove
• Chris Colbran - Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto 1st Movement
• Peter Evans Pritchard - The Mars Volta - Inertiatic Esp
• Hannah Platt - Horowitz: Lento
• Nolly Rebeiro - Maybe This Time from Cabaret

• A2 Compositions:
• Peter Evans Pritchard - Cut it up
• Peter Evans Pritchard - Bitanomom
• Peter Evans Pritchard - Ninjazz
• Richard Mitic - The calamatous comedy crime caper
• Richard Mitic - The piece formally known as reverse guitar

• AS Compositions:
• Catherine Bissex - String Minimalism with Woodblock
• Peter Evans Pritchard - Electro acoustic
• Vicki Puttock - Place him within Johnsons Circle
• Ellie Haines - Minimalism
• Richard Mitic - Oisky Poisky
• Martynas Vilpisaukas - Brazil over Austria

Related Items
Subject Focus: Music