A Level Music | Learning | Academics | Curriculum| Sixth Form | Ryde School | Isle of Wight

A Level Music

Study of music at Sixth Form level offers an exciting opportunity to develop your skills and broaden your experience of music. A successful musician requires diverse skills in performance, composition, harmony, music history and analysis, listening and writing, as well as interpersonal skills of communication and leadership.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Grade 5 in instrument / voice and GCSE Music Grade 6. Students should also have worked on Grade 5 theory, although it not essential that they have passed the exam.
“The course itself is engaging and interesting. There are endless opportunities to get involved in an ensemble or choir, whether studying the subject or not. The music department always welcomes you with open arms, and I enjoy being part of this department.”

WHERE THIS SUBJECT CAN TAKE YOU

Studying music at this level develops the vital musical skills of composition, performance, music analysis, harmony and listening skills. As a professional musician or keen amateur, the experience and knowledge gained at Sixth Form level will remain with you through all of your future musical activities. Previous students of Ryde School are now composers, music teachers, professional conductors, accompanists, West End Musical Performers and Directors, and Director of Music at St Anne’s College, Oxford University and professional opera singers.

AWARD - A LEVEL EDEXCEL Music
COURSE CONTENT/STRUCTURE

The course consists of:

  • Performance coursework - 30%
  • Composition and Compositional Techniques coursework - 30%
  • Listening and Appraising written examination - 40%

The course focuses immediately on the understanding and use of musical terminology as well as the development of harmonic understanding. This builds into an understanding of set works, harmony, listening skills and the development of compositional technique and understanding.
 

ASSESSMENT

Performance: Public performance, minimum of eight minutes of Grade 7/8 standard music. Composition: One composition of four minutes and completion of a compositional techniques exercise. Appraising: Two hour examination - listening questions and two essays, based on the study of set works, wider listening and unfamiliar music.

 

LEARNER PROFILE

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