A1 Features of a music brief
A2 Planning to meet the demands of the music brief
● Creative intentions and purpose of product: o target audience
o commercial
o collaborative
o experimental.
● Aim, purpose and requirements of the brief.
● Nature of the specific area of the industry.
● Understand the target audience.
● Understanding and linking to the company’s vision.
● How investigation and exploration can inform response.
● Understanding the rationale behind the selection of musical material.
● Investigating musical styles.
● Researching relevant material to support meeting the brief.
● The human and physical resources required.
● Proposing structure, version and arrangement.
● Timeline for development, including:
o working out individual parts
o establishing a personal practice routine
o learning and memorising material if appropriate.
● Format and scope of the final response.
A3 Considering constraints and intentions
● Creative constraints:
o technical requirements of the final response – format, material and purpose o available resources
o feasibility of own ideas
o standing out from similar work.
● Personal intentions:
o personal skills development o building on own strengths.
B1 Develop and produce a response to a brief
● Development processes:
o individual development routines
o identifies technical exercises for development o includes setting goals
o includes monitoring and tracking of progress.
B2 Refining musical skills for a musical product
● Create original music:
o applying melodic and rhythmic ideas
o use of chords and chord progressions
o use of textures/sound palettes
o musical devices, canon, riffs, imitation, sequences
o musical structures, verse, chorus, middle-eight, AABA, riff-based o use of composition software if appropriate.
● Perform (if appropriate):
o selecting material
o working out individual parts
o exploring feels and grooves
o stylistic investigation
o defining structure, version and arrangement
o establishing a personal practice routine
o establishing a group practice routine (where applicable) o learning and memorising material if appropriate.
● DAW skills (if appropriate): o selecting material
o capturing audio
o importing audio
o sequencing
o manipulating sounds and using effects o use of pre-sets and plug-ins.
B3 Refining musical material
B4 Personal management
● Watching/listening back to material for self-analysis.
● Discarding, refining and polishing material and processes.
● Seeking feedback and responding appropriately to criticism.
● Being prepared and maximising rehearsal or studio time.
● Working with others.
● Setting goals and monitoring progress.
● Meeting deadlines.
● Adhering to health and safety guidelines and safe working practices.
C1 Reviewing work based on client needs
Review:
o fitness for purpose
o clarity of message, ease of use, accessibility, appropriateness
o audience expectation – what the audience expects in comparison to the quality of the actual work
o how well work relates to the audience – materials, techniques and processes.
C2 Quality of outcome
● Quality of final product appropriate to context:
o appropriate performance or presentation space
o appropriate framing of video if applicable
o appropriate final mix of audio if applicable
o microphone choice and placement to ensure all musical elements are audible
o EQ/compression/balance in a DAW project.
● Clear and organised approach to communicating, ensuring that:
o key points in the process are referenced and in a logical order
o screenshots and images are used appropriately and effectively
o annotations explain the skills developed and creative intentions
o commentary is provided that explains decision making
o communication is clear and supports learner work
o good use is made of organising details such as titles, layout and emphasising techniques.
● Making final creative decisions in terms of:
o use of musical elements
o application of musical skills/technical proficiency o use of musical expression
o stylistic awareness.
C3 Presenting own work to a client
● Presenting development and final response in a portfolio for a client: o showing key stages of the project: initial ideas, review stages, presenting final response
o stages of refinement using images and/or annotation.
● Presenting intentions to a client:
o changes in direction
o creative decisions
o management of constraints o justification of any changes.
● Showing the final response.
C4 Relation of final product to the brief
● Relating to context.
● Suitability for target audience.
D1 Commentary on the creative process
● Commenting on the development of the musical product, including: o skills and techniques used
o explanation of thought processes
o reasons for creative choices
o use and management of resources.
● Evaluating application of personal management.
● Strengths and areas for improvement in relation to the process.
● Methods for capturing developments:
o screenshots
o audio commentary o video.
● Identification and selection of key points of development.
● Evidencing the discarding, refinement and extension of ideas.
D2 Reflect on the outcome of the musical product
● Meeting the requirements of the brief.
● Contribution to the creative process.
● Development through the process.
● Strengths and areas for improvement of the final product.