Music

Course Overview

Advanced Higher Music provides a broad practical experience of performing and creating music and develops related knowledge and understanding.

Performing:

Learners will develop performing skills in solo and/or group settings on two selected instruments or one instrument and voice. The minimum standard of piece to be performed is ABRSM Grade 5 (or equivalent).

Composing:

Learners will create original music using compositional methods and music concepts.

Understanding Music:

Learners will broaden their knowledge and undertanding of music and musical literacy by listening to music and identifying music signs, symbols and concepts.

Homework

You will be expected to do a great deal of coursework independently, particularly for your assignment. You will have regular literacy and listening homework and will be expected to rehearse your instruments regularly between classes either at home or within the department after school or at lunch times.

Assessment Approaches

Course assessment at Advanced Higher: 

• Composing Assignment – 20 marks (15%)

• Performance – 60 marks (50%)

• Question Paper: 40 marks (35%)

The performance component will be assessed by a visiting examiner in late April/early May and learners must prepare an eighteen minute performance on their two instruments or one instrument and voice. The performance time on either of the two selected instruments, or instrument and voice, must be a minimum of six minutes within the overall eighteen minute programme. Learners must play a minimum of two contrasting pieces on each instrument. For the question paper learners must sit an exam which demonstrates an ability to recognise and understand musical concepts, signs and symbols. The question paper will be conducted in centres under SQA external examination conditions. It is set and marked by the SQA. For the composing assignment learners will have to compose or arrange their own piece of original music, outline the process they went through and evaluate it. They will also have to analyse a piece of work by another composer, identifying the key features and compositional methods used.