MUSIC
Board: AQA (www.aqa.org.uk)
This broad course is an excellent preparation for university whether the intention is to read music or not because it involves creativity, analysis, problem-solving, listening skills and applied factual recall.
AS Level
Performing: 2 short recitals of 7-8 minutes each are prepared and may take place at any time during the course. In the first, students perform solo repertoire (with or without accompaniment); the second may either be chamber music or solo repertoire on a second instrument. The technical difficulty required is approximately that of Grade 5 Associated Board but the marking scheme is considerably more exacting; candidates aiming for the upper bracket need to give a flawless performance.
Composing: Our main reason for choosing this board is the choice between structured harmony and free composition. Both are ultimately delivered as twenty hours of controlled coursework but they offer developing musicians diverse pathways.
(i) Harmony: there are 2 questions of about 24 bars. In the first a melody is harmonised in four parts and in the second students write for two melody instruments above a given chord pattern.
(ii) Free composition: a work of 3-6 minutes in a major or minor key for a choice of instrumental combinations.
Both of the above briefs are published by AQA on 18th November.
Musical Knowledge (2 hour paper): the first part of this paper tests listening skills through student responses to a variety of musical styles (30 minutes). The second part of the paper concerns the study of part of an orchestral work (currently Mozart Symphony No 39 but due to change for June 2011) and the third looks at the development of musical theatre between 1940 and 1980 enabling us to select our favourite musical numbers for comparison. Short essay questions require a response to the music in terms of characterisation and setting in addition to instrumentation and use of voices. Fascinating yet very approachable.
A Level
In the second year of sixth from study, the pattern is similar but there is less breadth and more depth.
Performing: A solo recital of 15 minutes
Composing: either 2 harmony questions, one in the style of a Bach Chorale, the other in the style of a classical string quartet
or free composition.
Aural: Music History and Analysis – a listening paper is followed by two essays. The first is based on the set work (which is currently Mahler’s Fourth Symphony but is due to change for June 2012) and the second is on the development of chamber music in the Romantic Era. So much wonderful music!
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Board: Edexcel
AS Unit 1: Music Technology Portfolio 1 (Unit code 6MT01)
Externally assessed: 70% of the total AS marks
First assessment: June 2009
Content summary
Students will learn and use a variety of music and music technology skills in order to complete this unit. MIDI sequencing and multi-track recording as well as arranging skills are all key components assessed through the practical work carried out.
Students must complete three tasks which together make the Music Technology Portfolio 1:
- Task 1A: Sequenced Realised Performance
- Task 1B: Multi-track Recording
- Task 1C: Creative Sequenced Arrangement
Students will also submit a logbook that will provide information on the resources used in each task as well as assessed questions on their creative sequenced arrangement.
Assessment
Students will produce an audio CD entitled ‘Music Technology Portfolio 1’, containing three tracks of work as specified in the three tasks above. They will also present a logbook. The work is to be done under coursework conditions between the issue of the stimulus material in September and the submission date. The logbook will detail equipment used and be used to answer two assessed questions on their creative sequenced arrangement.
24 Track Mixing Desk in the Recording Studio
AS Unit 2: Listening and Analysing (Unit code 6MT02)
Externally assessed: 30% of the total AS marks
First assessment: June 2009
Content summary
This unit provides students with an opportunity to study the styles most common in popular music. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate this knowledge using aural discrimination skills.
Students are required to study the development of popular music styles from 1910 through to the present day. This is not intended to be a comprehensive and in-depth study of every popular, jazz or rock music style, but an overview of the main styles and trends during the development of popular music.
Two special focus styles will be selected each year for more in depth study. For the special focus styles, in addition to the main fingerprints of the style, students will be expected to have an extended knowledge and understanding of context. The two styles prescribed for Examination year 2011 are Soul and Indie Rock
Assessment
1 hour 45 minute listening examination, externally assessed, in the summer of the year of entry. containing recorded excerpts.
New Music Technology Suite
A2 Unit 3: Music Technology Portfolio 3 (Unit code 6MT03)
Externally assessed: 60% of the total A2 marks – 30% of the total GCE marks
First assessment: June 2010
Content summary
Unit 3 builds on skills acquired in Unit 1, and extends these to include a composition task. It involves detailed study of Area of Study 3: The Development of Technology based Music. Students must complete three tasks which together make the Music Technology Portfolio 2:
- Task 3A: Sequenced Integrated Performance
- Task 3B: Multi-track Recording
- Task 3C: Composing using Music Technology
Students will also submit a logbook that will provide information on the resources used in each task.
Assessment
Students will produce an audio CD entitled ‘Music Technology Portfolio 2’, containing three tracks of work as specified in the three tasks above. They will also present a logbook, detailing equipment used. The work is to be done under coursework conditions between the issue of the stimulus material in September and the submission date.
A2 Unit 4: Analysing and Producing (Unit code 6MT04)
Externally assessed: 40% of the total A2 marks – 20% of the total GCE marks
First assessment: June 2010
Content summary
Students will be expected to demonstrate their knowledge of music and the principles of music technology through a series of written commentaries, manipulations and production tasks using material provided on an examination paper and recorded on an audio CD.
The examination will test students’ musical understanding, their ability to manipulate and correct recorded music and their ability to write commentaries on technological processes. They will also be tested on their ability to produce a balanced stereo mix.
Assessment
This assessment will take the form of a 2-hour examination.
Each student will have an audio CD, which will contain a series of music files to be imported into music production software. Each student will also have an examination paper in which some or all of the CD tracks will be notated as conventional staff notation, editing grids or numerical data.