Why Music?
Studying Music will enhance general musicianship significantly and introduce the student to a far greater repertoire than known at GCSE. The course is highly stimulating and intellectually challenging. Many pieces are studied in detail and students also perform and write a lot of music themselves. Music complements a wide range of subjects very well indeed: it can balance three scientific subjects, fit comfortably with other arts subjects and enhance languages. To study Music at this level the student must have a deep interest in the subject and a desire to extend the range of the music with which they are familiar.
Course Overview
Unit 1 – Influences On Music
There are three sections to the exam: Listening, Study of a set work and a Chosen area of study.
Unit 2 – Creating Musical Ideas
In this unit, students have a choice of compositional techniques, free composition or arranging.
Unit 3 – Performing: Interpreting Musical Ideas
Students perform music lasting at least 10 minutes.
Unit 4 – Music In Context
Students study two chosen topics.
Unit 5 – Composing: Developing Musical Ideas
Students have a choice of compositional techniques/free composition and arranging.
Unit 6 – A Musical Performance
Students perform a programme of music with two contrasting performances lasting fifteen minutes.
Assessment
AS assessment is by written examination for Influences on Music, coursework on Creating Musical Ideas and a recital -Interpreting Musical Ideas. A2 is assessed by written examination for Music in Context, coursework on Composing: Developing Musical Ideas and also involves a recital - A Musical Performance.
Beyond A Level
A number of girls every year go on from The Abbey School to study Music at University. A university Music degree is viewed in exactly the same light as any other Arts degree (e.g. English, History etc.) and so is an excellent subject to study in Higher Education for students who have a deep passion for and interest in Music. Music degrees come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, some highly academic, some much more practical, and so careful research will be necessary to find the right university for an individual student’s interests and talents.