Music is assessed by the three distinct but related disciplines of performing, composing and appraising. The specification will give you the freedom to express your own musical interests through composing and performing in styles of your own choice and also within at least one of the specified areas of study. You will be able to play to your strengths in either performing or composing and demonstrate your ability to draw together different areas of knowledge and understanding from across areas of study in the listening and appraising examination.

The course will require students to

• carry out focused assessment of specific performing and composing skills

• the opportunity to specialise in either performing or composing at A Level for an extra 8% of the qualification

• the opportunity to link creative and practical work with your chosen area of study

• the inclusion of a ‘free choice’ composition

• a choice between two set works from the Western Classical Tradition for analysis

• a choice of ‘popular music’ areas of study from the 20th and 21st Centuries

• exam questions which demand analysis, extended answers, comparison of musical extracts and responses to unprepared extracts of music as well as set works