The Music Department

Music @ Key Stage 5

Exam board: AQA

Why study Music?

A level Music offers you the opportunity to further develop your understanding of music, to explore new genres and
improve your own musical skills. There are good facilities in the college formusic particularly in IT
equipment, using‘Sibelius’,‘Musictime’,‘Cubasis’and‘Midigrid’.

The department is served by an excellent and dedicated team of instrumental/vocal teachers who together provide over 100 lessons per week in the purpose built block. The college encourages you to take instrumental/vocal lessons at the college to help in your preparation for the examination.

Additionally, there are opportunities to perform in ensembles of various kinds. For example, Jazz Group; String/Wind ensembles; Student Bands and many other ad-hoc groups for different circumstances. Students from the college normally give a concert or public performance each term; there is a recent tradition of offering one of those concerts at the cathedral in Ely.

Some students have recorded their A-Level performances and compositions at these special events.

What will you study?

AS
Unit 1: Influences on Music
Unit 2: Composing: Creating Musical Ideas
Unit 3: Performing: Interpreting Musical Ideas

A2
Unit 4: Music In Context
Unit 5: Composing: Developing Musical Ideas
Unit 6: Performing: A Musical Performance

Method of assessment
Assessment will involve a combination of externally marked written exams, externally marked coursework and internally assessed performance.

Future prospects
A level Music is an excellent grounding for anyone wishing to study or perform music at a higher level. It is also a well respected A level and can lead on to degree level study in a wide range of subject areas.