Course Description

We are extremely proud of our Music offering here at Gordano school. From our Extra-Curricular offerings to our curriculum, Music is very much a part of school life.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with Ms Hinchliffe, the Head of Music via the school mailbox. 

Contact:	Ms R Hinchliffe	Exam Board:	AQA
QAN:	50022738	Subject Code:	Mu

The Course

Component 1: Appraising Music (Written exam, 2 hours 30 minutes) – 40% of total A-level

This part of the course focuses on a huge range of different genres of music and encourages students to be analytical in their approach to music. Students explore artists and composers from Beyonce to Joanie Mitchell, Mozart to Bernard Herrmann.

Areas of Assessment: 

Compulsory: Western classical tradition 1650–1910 (Baroque: the solo concerto, Classical: the operas of Mozart, Romantic: the piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg, Romantic: the piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg) 

AND

At least two from the below: 

1. Pop music 
2. Music for media
3. Music for theatre
4. Jazz 
5. Contempory traditional music
6. Art Music since 1910

We are able to tailor the above list to students' expertise and needs. 

The exam consists of 3 sections: 

• Section A: Listening (56 marks)
  • Involves listening to unfamiliar music excerpts and answering question sets.
  • Includes dictation, aural recognition, and identifying/describing musical elements and staff notation.
• Section B: Analysis (34 marks)
  • Involves detailed analysis and contextual understanding of set work extracts from your chosen areas of study. 
• Section C: Essay (30 marks)
  • Requires a broader essay response focused on one of your studied areas of study.

Component 2: Performance (Non-exam assessment) – 35% of total A-level

As a school we pride ourselves on making our performances and extra - curricular as inclusive as possible and we strive to continue this at GCSE and A level. Performing is such a huge part of our identity as a school and this A level course allows students who are strong performers to shine as it puts a higher emphasis on performance. 

We ask that students taking the A level are at a Grade 6 standard on any musical discipline and have regular music lesson or are regularly engaging with some form of musical tuition or guidance. This has a higher weighting than composition and it gives students who are strong performers an advantage. Student will perform a recital, in April of year 13 to teachers (friends and family are also welcome). The recital must be a minimum of 10 minutes of solo, ensemble, or production-tech performance and can be a combination of both. 

The Performance is externally marked using the table below and is out of 50 marks. 

Ambition of project	5
Technical control	15
Expressive control	15
Performance quality	15

Component 3: Composition (Non-exam assessment) – 25% of total A-level

This course develops your ability to critically understand and analyse music whilst at the same time being able to understand its social and historical context. You will compose 2 pieces of music, a Free composition and a composition to a Brief. Each composition is worth 12.5% of the A level and is done in lesson time. Students are encouraged to create compositions which work well with their skills remit. From Musical Theatre to Glam rock, we have had a huge range of compositions in the past. The Brief compositions are released in September of Year 13 and are across a wide range of musical styles. Students are encouraged to use Logic or Flat.io to write their compositions. 

Assessment: 1 Free composition (25 Marks) 1 Brief composition (25 marks) Both completed in Year 13. The combined duration of the compositions must be a minimum of four and a half minutes. This is also externally marked. 

Requirements for Entry 

Involvement in at least 2 extra-curricular activities each week is expected, with public performance on the main instrument and attendance at school concerts. Students are also expected to have theory to Grade 5 standard or a 6 at GCSE.

Possible Subject Combinations

The skill set for studying Music is diverse, transferable and is compatible with many other subjects. Many of our students' pair Music with two Sciences or Maths, or with English and History or more essay-based subjects. Music is also not just a 'hobby' subject, it is academic and is one of the only subjects to combine performance aspects, essay and analytical aspects, alongside creative and technological aspects. 

What do the students say? 

“It’s fun, engaging and gives transferable skills to other subjects"

"I like the creativity that music gives me the opportunity to explore"

"It has opened up my entire genres of music that I didn’t even know existed, causing me to completely reimagine my perception of music"

"If you love music - take this subject"

Where can A Level Music take me? 

Music A-level can lead to a variety of career and higher education routes, including courses in Performance, Composition, general Music degrees, Music Technology or Music Therapy. Equally, because of its highly transferable skills it provides an excellent foundation for any career path. 

Careers Gordano Musicians have gone into after taking music A level: 

AV technician, Music teacher (Primary), Music teacher (Secondary), Peripatetic music teacher, Performing and touring musicians (Musical Theatre, Orchestras, Bands), Scientists, Actors, Midwifery, Youth work, Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, Occupational Therapist with Music therapy,,Headteacher and school leadership and Accounting

Assessment