A-level Music

Music

At Bosworth, A-level Music offers you the opportunity to develop your ability to use musical devises and conventions through composition, engage with and increase awareness and appreciation of the diverse heritage of music, and develop critical evaluation skills through appraising your own and other’s music.

This course is only available for the September start 2 year A-level.

Entry Requirements

Ideally, to study A-level Music you will have a good pass at GCSE level. Alternatively, you have musical experience separate to your academic studies and thus have a good grounding in musical theory and are a strong performer in either instrumental or vocal music.

Course Content

We follow the Eduqas syllabus in which are three sections: composing, performing and appraising.

Music appraising covers a compulsory Western Classical section studying one symphony in detail and one for general study. The choice is Mendelssohn “Italian” Symphony no 4 and Hayden “London” Symphony no 104. There are four areas of ‘Personal Study’ from which students must choose one. The areas are:

Pop Music – 1960-2000

Musical Theatre – Bernstein, Schwrtz, Sondhein and Lloyd-Webber.

Jazz Music – 1920-1960

Music from the 20th Century – Poulenc Trio for Oboe, Basson and Piano plus Debussy “Nuages” from Three Nocturnes

Music from 21st Century – studying Ades “Asyla” movement 3 “Ecstasio” and Beamish String Quartet no2 movements 2 and 4.

Music at AS Level

As in the A-level performance, this will be examined by a visiting examiner.

Composing you will need 2 pieces which will add up to between 41/2 and 7 minutes, with your first piece reflecting the Western Classical style and the second piece being in a style of your own choosing.

Apprising is the written exam lasting 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 40% of your whole mark.

You will study two movements of a chosen symphony, either Haydn ‘London’ or Mendelssohn ‘Italian’.

There are optional areas of study from which you have to choose just one. They are Rock and Pop from 1960 to 1990 and Musical Theatre with composers such as Bernstein, Schwartz and Lloyd-Webber and Jazz from 1920 to 1960.

Where does it lead?

A music degree can lead to a range of exciting career options, including becoming a professional musician, sound technician, music therapist, teacher or arts administrator. It can also lead to work in radio, theatre and events management or just a lifelong passion.