AS/A2 Performance Studies

AS/A2 Performance Studies

Why study Performance Studies?
This course will be of interest to you if you have a wide interest in the Arts or wish to proceed to study Performance Studies or one of the art forms of Music, Dance and Drama at degree level or at a specialist College. The course also allows you to develop a variety of skills, which will be of use in other subjects and the world of work, and will provide you with the basis for a lifetime leisure interest.

What will I study and how will it be assessed?
The whole course consists of four units. Each unit is based on the research, devising and rehearsing required for a final performance in action. It combines many facets of music, dance and drama and encourages an integrated approach. The emphasis is placed on an understanding of the performance process and aims to give you an appreciation of the unifying and diverse aspects of the performing arts through involvement in performance activities. It aims to develop your understanding and communication in the arts, together with awareness of the diverse social, cultural and historical contexts and functions that the arts may serve. The course makes demands on your self-motivation and ability to organise time and resources. Students will keep working notebooks and write essays and coursework assignments. The course is taught by three teachers all working together, sometimes as a whole group, sometimes with smaller groups. All students will be expected to contribute ideas to performances and presentations. There are two units in the AS course and a further two units in the A2 course.

Details of AS Units
Creating Performance (70% of AS Mark).
For this unit you will learn about the elements of Dance, Drama and Music and the ways in which they may work together. This will be taught through a series of workshops. You will devise and perform three short pieces, looking at the processes of improvising, rehearsing and performing. You will then devise and perform a fourth piece that combines all 3 art forms to be performed in a community venue. A written commentary analysing the processes of improvising, rehearsing and performing will form the final part of this unit which is assessed.

Performance Contexts One (30% of AS Mark).
For this unit you will study one work in depth in each of two areas, chosen from Dance, Drama and Music. In Dance you might study a work by Matthew Bourne or Lloyd Newson. In Drama you might look at a work of Caryl Churchill or John Godber and for Music, the study on one work from George Gershwin or the Beatles.

Details of A2 Units
Performance Contexts Two (30% of A2 Mark).
For this unit you will study Post-modern Performance approaches since the 1960s analysing a range of extracts and scenes from works such as Lea Anderson in Dance, Forced Entertainment in Drama and The Beatles in Music.

Performance Projects (70% of A2 Mark).
You will undertake two performances. Performance one will focus on performing an extract of either music, dance and drama, from the works previously studied. For performance two, you will work in groups to create an original performance, which will explore techniques, and approaches learned during the course. The work will be devised from a starting point chosen from a given list.

Does Performance Studies link particularly well with other subjects?
Performance Studies can be taken alongside other arts subjects and is particularly complemented by Media Studies and Theatre Studies, although you could also study this subject alongside a wide range of Humanities and Science subjects.

Where might it lead me?
A university degree in Performing Arts, or a university degree in Performing Arts combined with another subject or training in Performing Arts at a specialist college.

This really is an insightful, challenging, creative and hugely diverse subject that can prepare you in developing skills of confidence with other equally enthusiastic students.