AS/A2 EDEXCEL

Studying Music will help you to develop analytical skills, group skills, self confidence and self reliance, as well as providing a means of artistic expression. It stretches your imagination and playing an instrument makes you think and react quickly.

Course Outline
6 units - 3 for AS and 3 for A2

AS Level
Unit 1 - Performing
You will complete a performance which should last for five minutes on any instrument or voice.

Unit 2 - Composing
You will compose a three minute piece that may be for any instrument.  Once your piece has been completed you answer questions to produce a CD sleeve note to accompany the composition.  We have both the Sibelius score writing package and Cubase sequencing software which you may work on.

Unit 3 - Developing Musical Understanding
This unit concerns listening to music and understanding how it is constructed. You will explore the main elements of music and will have to show that you can write informatively about a variety of pieces of music.

A2 Level
Unit 4 - Extended Performance
This unit gives you the opportunity to extend your performance skills.  The complete performance should last for between twelve minutes and provide a balanced programme of music.

Unit 5 - Composition and Technical study
The Composition section of this unit further develops your composition skills, leading to the creation of a final three-minute piece to a chosen brief.

The Technical Study section builds on the knowledge and awareness of harmony gained in Unit 3.

Unit 6 - Further Musical Understanding
This unit concerns listening to and writing about music, and understanding how it works.  Set works provide the focus for much of the unit and you learn how to compare and contrast pairs of excerpts, contextualise music, and identify harmonic and tonal features.

Preferred Entry Requirements
You will need to have either a GCSE in Music or be of a Grade V standard on your chosen instrument/theory.  We do require that all students who take AS/A2 Music continue to have instrumental lessons (either within College or privately) and take part in at least one extra-curricular musical group.*

*Please note that your enrolment on to a particular course must be approved by the Head of that department.