Why study music?
Music is an enriching and engaging subject, offering a unique combination of creativity and academic rigour. Studying for a music A level qualification will allow you to develop and refine your understanding of music, as a performer, composer, and as a listener. Furthermore, it allows you to explore and develop a passion for music, alongside building your confidence and communication skills. You will be supported by a department that strives for and achieves excellent results inside and outside of the classroom.
How will I be assessed?
Assessment is through a mixture of externally assessed performance and composition, which you will complete at various points throughout the course, as well as an end of year examination in Year 13. You can choose whether to specialise in performance or composition (25% or 35% of your final grade), as well as being able to make decisions about which genres of music you study.
What will I be learning about?
You will explore high-level concepts in music, developing your skills through composition, performance and the analysis of music from a wide range of styles and genres. Following the Eduqas A Level specification, not only will you have the opportunity to decide whether performance or composition will be your specialism, but there is also a choice regarding which areas of music history are studied.
Option A: Performing (35%), Composing (25%), Appraising (40%)
Option B: Composing (35%), Performing (25%), Appraising (40%)
- Western Classical Tradition
- Rock and Pop or Musical Theatre or Jazz
- Into the Twentieth Century or Into the Twenty-first Century
Where will this lead?
Music A level is a highly regarded qualification. The course provides you with many transferable skills, making you an appealing candidate to potential employers, as well as it being sought after by many top universities in the country as an academic subject. Most importantly, it will leave you with a life-long love of music and the ability to perform and compose to an extremely high level.
What are the entry requirements?
Eight grade 9-4 at GCSE level including minimum level 5 in English. If you are studying music GCSE, you will need to have achieved a level 6 If not, you will need to have passed a Grade 5 music theory examination. All students will need to be able to demonstrate that they can perform at the required level before entry onto the course.