Music A level

Between now and joining us in September, as well as practising your main instrument as much as you can, the next best thing you could do is keep a diary of any listening you do.

You could:

- simply note down any piece title and composer you listen to;

From these styles:

- sung "classical" music (aria's, religous music, song-cycles);

- instrumental "classical" music (symphonies, tone-poems, string quartets, concertos, sonatas, trios);

- music for film (watch loads of movies - what a drag...!)

- Jazz (if it scares you, start with the big band era, just listen to loads of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie);

- Pop - listen to a bit of The Beatles, and then anything else you like;

- fusions (where music from different cultures are combined to make something new, such as Bhangra);

- modern music (if it sounds like a cat weeping at a squeaky gate, it's possible that you're enjoying some modern music. John Cage would be a good place to start, as would the magnificent ballets of Stravinsky's time in Paris).

And then extend that idea by:

- making a more detailed note of the title, i.e. an Opus number (or equivalent), movement, key;

- note down any stylistic features you hear (size of orchestra, prominent instruments, particular treatment of rhythm, or anything at all);

- make a note of whether or not it's worth listening to again i.e. how much you like it and want others to like it!

- learn about the context of the piece. When was it written, for what or whom, what was the composer like and what were they doing at the time? Where did they live and work? Who were their contemporaries?

You don't have to do lots of this exercise, and you don't have to answer all the extension questions every single time. You should just do as much listening as possible, to as wide a variety of music as possible, as often as possible!

Have fun with this!!!