Sixth Form
Music
Music is a universal form of human expression and communication, empowering students to harness their creative, technical, and emotional potential to connect communities and shape our cultural landscape.
At Ryde you can study Music at A Level and IBDP.
Wht study Music at Ryde School?
The study of music at Sixth Form level is a journey that aims to sharpen your creative skills and broaden your artistic horizons. As an aspiring musician, you will refine diverse expertise in performance, composition, and harmony, while developing deep analytical insights into music history. Beyond the notes, the course fosters essential interpersonal skills, including leadership and effective communication.
The musicality gained at Ryde School prepares students for both professional careers and lifelong amateur passion. Our past students have successfully transitioned into roles that include professional conductors, composers, and educators; performers on a variety of stages including Opera and the West End; and even Directors of Music at prestigious institutions like St Anne’s College, Oxford.
Courses Available
Entry Requirements
- Grade 5 in your primary instrument or voice.
- GCSE Music at Grade 6.
- Progress toward Grade 5 Theory is highly recommended, though a formal pass is not mandatory.
Course Content/Structure
From the start of the course, students will have to use correct musical terminology; develop their understanding of harmonic analysis and language; study a set of diverse works. The curriculum is divided into three core sections:
- Performance (30%): A public recital of at least eight minutes, performing music of Grade 7/8 standard.
- Composition (30%): One four-minute composition alongside a technical exercise demonstrating compositional prowess.
- Appraising (40%): A two-hour written exam featuring listening questions and two essays focused on set works and unfamiliar music.
Assessment
Assessment is designed to mirror the life of a professional musician, combining practical coursework in performance and composition with a rigorous final examination of your appraising and analytical skills.
Entry Requirements
Grade 5 in instrument / voice and GCSE Music Grade 6. Students should also have worked on Grade 5 theory, although it is not essential that they have passed the exam.
Award
IBDP & IBCP Music (The Arts – Group 6)
Course Content/Structure
The course aims to build on the musical interests and abilities of our students, encouraging an understanding of the relevant and very diverse musical skills required by a successful all round musician. Through study and practice of the core skills of performance, composition, listening and analysis, students will develop their knowledge and potential as musicians and study in depth four main topics:
1. Exploring music in context
2. Experimenting with music
3. Presenting music
4. The contemporary music-maker (HL only)
In conjunction with investigating four Areas of Inquiry, pupils also look at personal, local and global contexts. An interest and enthusiasm for all styles of music will be encouraged. Students will be expected to read, listen to and study a wide range of music in order to gain an understanding and appreciation of the sheer diversity of music across the world.
Assessment
No written examination for IB music, but students submit a final portfolio for each topic of recorded Performance, Composition and Arranging techniques also demonstrating the use of Music Technology. Internal Assessment and monitoring is carried out termly by the subject teacher, alongside a Music Journal kept by the students.