Music

Individual Instrumental or Vocal Lessons
These are on an individual basis, lasting 30 minutes with a specialist tutor. Lessons are arranged in free periods whenever possible for Sixth Form students. There are 10 lessons per term for which a charge is made.
To apply, contact Miss Mitchell, Director of Music, for an Application Form on 020 8942 1242 ext 159.

Orchestra and Jazz Band
Girls and boys who play an orchestral instrument are very welcome to join the Orchestra or the Jazz Band. Rehearsals take place on Tuesdays (Orchestra) and Wednesdays (Jazz Band) after school in the Recital Room (R38). See Mrs Edmonstone in the Music Department for more details.

Chamber Choir
Girls in the Sixth Form are invited to audition for the Chamber Choir. The auditions take place in the second week of September. The Choir perform regularly in school, at local venues and further a field. Choir tours in recent years have been arranged to Venice (twice), Prague, Salzburg (twice) and Toronto in Canada. For more details, please see Miss Mitchell.

The Rag Club
Every year the Sixth Form hold a Rag Week and there is a cabaret evening called The Rag Club as part of this. Sixth Form students are invited to audition to perform musical items of their own choice for the event to showcase their talent.

AS/A2 Music

What does studying Music involve?
AS and A2 Music involves the activities of solo and ensemble performing, composing, developing musical techniques, listening and analysis. It extends and develops the skills covered at GCSE level.

How will I know if I would be successful at it?
To be successful at A Level Music you should have a good foundation of musical skills at the outset. You should enjoy performing both as a soloist and in ensembles, and be committed to improving your performing skills throughout the course. The composing unit enables you to develop your creative skills, and knowledge and an interest in music technology could be an advantage. You should also enjoy listening and studying a wide variety of musical styles, and understanding the logic of how it all works.

What skills will I develop and where could studying this subject lead me?
During the course you will develop a variety of musical skills including practical, interpretative, creative, aural, knowledge and understanding and music technology skills. In addition you will develop your Key Skills including communication, ICT, improving your own learning and performance, and working with others. The quality of your written work is assessed in Units 2 and 6 including style, form, vocabulary, organisation, spelling, handwriting, punctuation, grammar and presentation.
In school there are many extra-curricular activities to become involved in to develop your skills, either by participating, directing and rehearsing an ensemble, organising an activity or helping the Music staff. These include Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Jazz Band, Music Theory, Steel Pans and the Rag Club. Workshops, concerts and conferences are organised when the opportunities arise. Individual instrumental or vocal tuition is available in school with specialist tutors at a slightly reduced rate for students studying A Level Music. Please ask the Music staff for more details. There are also the posts of School Music Captain and Deputy in Year 13 which involve giving your time, talents and commitment to the Music Department.

Music can be studied at degree level at university or specialist music conservatoires as a discrete subject or as part of a combined degree at university. A wide variety of career pathways will be open to you including performing, teaching, composing and arranging, music industry management, broadcasting, music technology, music therapy, instrument technology, arts administration and much more.

Important issues to consider
During the course you will need to be dedicated to practising your instrument(s) and developing your performing skills. You will need to invest in regular lessons with a specialist teacher to ensure you meet the necessary standard. You will also need to spend time becoming familiar with a variety of music technology software packages. Additionally, you will need to be open to studying a wide range and variety of musical repertoire, some of which you may not be familiar with. You will be expected to undertake any additional work deemed necessary by the staff to fill any gaps in your knowledge in order to be successful on the course.

Entry Requirements
To begin the AS course you need an A* to C grade at GCSE, and a minimum standard of a pass at Grade 5 (Associated Board or equivalent) on an instrument or voice at the start of the course. It is also important to be able to read music fluently and have a good understanding of music theory. If you would like to start the course but do not have GCSE Music and/or Grade 5 on an instrument or voice, then an interview and audition will be organised with the Music staff in the first week of term prior to beginning the Induction Period.

Which other subjects does it combine well with?
Music is favourably recognised by universities, and combines well with most A Level subjects, including English, Art, Media Studies, Drama, Maths, Physics, Psychology and History. It can be studied at degree level at university or specialist music conservatoires as a discrete subject or as part of a combined degree at university.

Progression in Music between AS and A2
The A2 continues to develop the skills, knowledge and understanding developed during the AS course. However, it is a demanding course of study. The standard for performance at A2 is a minimum of Grade 6, and an extended performance is a requirement at this level (12-15 minutes). The technical study is challenging and requires commitment and self discipline to build up your harmonic repertoire and theory knowledge.

Units and Assessment Information

AS Level

Unit 1 Performing 30%
-solo and/or ensemble
-minimum standard expected Grade 5
-any style
-notated and/or improvised performances
-maximum of 5 players including you in an ensemble with no part doubled
-5/6 minute assessed continuous performance
-recorded at any point during the course as many times as desired
-assessed by us and moderated by the exam board

Unit 2 Composing 30%
-3 minute composition in response to a chosen brief
-any combination of resources in any style
-select from 1 of 4 set briefs (2 from the Instrumental area of study, 2 from the Vocal area of study)
-score and recording required
-CD sleeve note to evaluate and show influences on composition based on 3 set questions
-composition completed under controlled conditions over 15 hours
-externally assessed by the exam board

Unit 3 Developing Musical Understanding 40%
-use the New Anthology of Music (but no access during exam)
-identify musical features, social and historical context
-also identify harmonic and tonal features and complete a short SATB passage of harmony
-2 hour exam
-5 minutes’ reading time
-Listening to extracts, with a skeleton score
-Investigating musical styles
-Understanding chords and lines; you may use keyboard with headphones but not any software
-externally assessed by the exam board

A2 Level

Unit 4 Extended Performance 30%
-solo and /or ensemble
-any style
-notated and/or improvised performances
-any instrument and/or voice
-12-15 minute assessed performance
-recorded at any time during the course as many times as desired
-minimum audience of 2 but more is expected!
-assessed by us and moderated by the exam board

Unit 5 Composition and Technical Study 30%
-3 minute composition to a chosen brief
-select 1 of 4 set briefs (2 from the Instrumental area of study and 2 from Applied Music)
-any combination of resources in any style
-plus one technical study and one composition, or two compositions or 2 technical studies
-externally assessed by the exam board

Unit 6 Further Musical Understanding 40%
-use different NAM set works to Unit 3
-identify musical features, context and/or elements of continuity and change
-tasks on unfamiliar music; compare and contrast, contextualise music, harmonic and tonal features
-2 hour exam
-5 minutes’ reading time
-Aural analysis; listening to extracts with skeleton score
-Music in Context
-Continuity and Change in instrumental music
-access to unmarked copies of the NAM is allowed during the exam

Areas of Study at A Level Music
There are 3 Areas of Study which run through the whole course:

-Instrumental Music encompasses a wide range of instrumental styles and traditions, including full scale orchestral works and chamber music from the western classical tradition
-Vocal Music music for voices only or for voices and instruments
-Applied Music music which is ‘applied’ to a range of situations with music serving some wider purpose (eg dance, ritual, film, TV)

Exam Board
Edexcel AS 8MU01 A2 9MU01

Further Information
If you would like further information on the A Level Music course or opportunities for Music in the Sixth Form at Coombe, please contact a member of the Music Department staff on 020 8942 1242 ext159.