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Music A Level
Why choose this subject?
A Level Music is a varied course including Musical Appraising, Performing and Composing in a wide variety of styles.
It is more Classically orientated so if you favour Rock and Pop, you may wish to consider BTEC Level 3 Music at Immanuel instead.
What will you study?
This is a new course and may be subject to change.
How is this course assessed?
Appraising 40%
You will study 2 pieces from each of the following areas, as well as applying your knowledge to unfamiliar music:
- Vocal Music; including Bach & Vaughan Williams.
- Instrumental Music; including Wieck-Schumann & Berlioz.
- Music for Film; including Hermann’s Psycho & Elfman’s Batman Returns.
- Popular Music and Jazz; including Kate Bush, The Beatles & Courtney Pine.
- Fusions; including Debussy & A. Shankar.
- New Directions; including Saariaho & Stravinsky.
Assessment is via written exam.
Performance 30%
A public performance of 8 minutes, performed as a recital. The demand expectation for A Level by the end of Y13 is
Grade 7 so you should be able to perform at a strong Grade 5 or Grade 6 ABRSM standard by the start of Y12.
Students who are not yet ABRSM Grade 5 or 6 standard may wish to consider the BTEC Level 3 Music at Immanuel.
Composing 30%
Two compositions, one to a brief set by Pearson and one either free composition or also to a brief.
Music Intent
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Through perseverance students are encouraged to develop musical skills and knowledge through performing, composing and listening across a broad range of genres, styles, and traditions3.
Students will nurture academic habits to develop their ability to analyse, create and seek inspiration from a range of composers and musicians in a variety of styles, genres and traditions using different musical structures, developing character. Our curriculum prepares students to be well rounded individuals and to stretch themselves spiritually, morally and imaginatively through creative investigations. The music curriculum foster confidence, creativity and individual skills students will play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble contexts using their voice, playing instruments musically, fluently and with accuracy and expression3.
Our curriculum provides a foundation for students to pursue their hopes and aspirations through further education on their own creative journey including opportunities to visit Higher Education Institutions and working with industry professionals, giving hope8. Spirituality and creativity through understanding and exploring how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations. To encourage students to be creative learners both in and out of the classroom through homework and extra-curricular activities9
3 Galatians 3:26 – ‘In Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
8 Philippians 4:8 – ‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.’
9 John 10:10 – Jesus said, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.’
What next?
Music A Level students are highly sought after by Universities for their analytical, problem-solving, independent and creative thinking skills.
A Level Music can lead to a Degree course in Music or a joint honours course such as Music & Astrophysics! Past A level students of Immanuel staff have gone on to study at Russell group Universities such as Leeds, Nottingham, and Durham.
Careers include work in the Creative Arts industries, Music teaching, Sound Engineering or Music Therapy; in 2019 the British Music Industry was worth £5.8 billion!
