Music (Senior - Academic Curriculum)

The students receive two music lessons a week in Form 3 and Lower 4^th (Years 7 and 8) and one lesson a week in the Upper 4^th (Year 9).

Within the curriculum we offer a varied course covering many different musical genres which include:

African Drumming
Ragtime and Jazz
Carnival of the Animals
Pop Music
Symphonies and Concertos
Film and TV music
Music and Media
Samba

GCSE Music

At GCSE we follow the Edexcel syllabus which is split into three sections:

Performing 30%
Composing 30%
Musical Understanding 40%

The GCSE course covers the following topics:
1. Repetition and contrast
2. New Directions
3. Popular song in context
4. Rhythms, scales and modes in music from around the world

AS Music

At AS level we follow the Edexcel syllabus which is split into three sections:

Performing 30%
Composing 30%
Musical Understanding and Listening 40%

Performing

Solo Performance

• Give a 5-6 min solo performance
• Can be 1 or more solo pieces

Performing during the course

• Must submit 4 pieces - one solo, one as part of an ensemble, one a piece you have composed and one recorded

Composition

Composition

• 1 composition - 3 mins max
• Choose 1 of 8 topics

Compositional Techniques

• 2 coursework exercises

Listening and Understanding

Listening Test

• 45 min listening test

Written Paper

• Study two areas from a set list

A2 Music

At A2 level we follow the Edexcel syllabus which is split into three sections:

1.Performing and composing 30%

2. Specialist Options 30%

3. Analysing Music 40%

Performing and Composing

1. Performing during the course = 4 pieces for assessment
   1 solo piece (recorded) and 1 ensemble piece must be included
2. A timed test in compositional techniques
   Must be one of the techniques studied for AS

Specialist Options

One of the following:

• Composition - 2 pieces lasting at least 6 mins
  Must be taken from a set list and 1 must be the same topic as last year
• 20 minute solo recital (recorded)

Analysing Music

Listening paper

• 45 mins in length
• 3 questions
• Extracts taken from a variety of styles

2 hour written paper

• Based on 2 areas of study