Welcome!

Welcome to A level Music! This is an exciting but challenging course where you'll develop your performance skills (solo and/or ensemble), compose music, learn about harmony and build up your aural and analytical skills.

In order to be prepared for September, we have put together approximately 3 hours of activities for you to complete.

If you have any questions you can email the Team Leader at deborah.bideau@sch.gg

Each task will have a link to a lesson and any videos to help. Once complete, there will be a link to an activity to check your understanding. Some of it may be completely new or it may just be a refresher for some of you but if you find it difficult, don't worry as we will refresh it all again in September. Please note all videos will appear at the bottom of the page as well as within the text.

Alongside this, we would also suggest you listen to/watch as much music as you can in order to broaden your musical knowledge. Any style is great but we will be specifically studying Baroque Music, Mozart opera, music theatre, romantic piano and pop.

Have fun!

Music Theory:   

You are going to need to know a range of basic music theory to help you during the course. Below is a list of different concepts you can work through. We will go over all of this at the start of the course but this will give you a head start, particularly if it is new to you. You may already know some of this, so only do the sections which you do not already know or you need a refresher about.

Once again, if you find it too hard or do not understand all of it please don't worry as you will have some one to one help with this at the start of the course.

1. Notation (only required for those who do not read music):

A large part of the course will require you to read and write in treble and bass clef. If this is not a strength yet, please watch the music theory video on the treble clef and then try the clef reading test below. You can set the test to include different things by clicking on the icons then click ok.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le10tF_3YWg

www.teoria.com/en/exercises/clef.php 

2. Scales 

Read the following online lesson about scales.

https://www.mymusictheory.com/learn-music-theory/reference/322-how-to-write-scales 

There is also a video on scales below that might help.

Now complete the following test to reinfoce this information:

https://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/si.php   Scale identification

3. Circle of Fifths & Key Signatures 

Watch the 3 videos below and as you watch try to have a go at drawing you own circle of fifths following the steps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WplfLDijowk&list=PLC0C264DF28699A40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzk0YmfZ1Do&list=PLC0C264DF28699A40&index=2 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-_l6vGnrHA&list=PLC0C264DF28699A40&index=3 

Now try the test to see what you can remember. You will need to know these off by heart eventually.

https://www.musictheory.net/exercises/keysig      Key identification

4. Chords 

 Please watch the 2 videos below on Primary triads (major keys) and Primary triads (minor keys). Make notes if you need to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mELUQyREHoo&list=UUYsFhwBMrd-mIJO6sykO_Yg&index=27 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuA0Y132Vvs 

Now try these tests to check your understanding. Please make sure you have highlighted the boxes major, minor and root before you start the tests.

https://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/c3i.php     Triad Identification

https://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/c3c.php    Triad Construction

5. Intervals.

 Please watch the following 3 videos on understanding intervals and make notes if necessary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgbiO6c72ww&list=UUYsFhwBMrd-mIJO6sykO_Yg&index=55   Intervals part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pWYXN80tco&list=UUYsFhwBMrd-mIJO6sykO_Yg&index=65  Intervals part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv8b4FhW09A&list=UUYsFhwBMrd-mIJO6sykO_Yg&index=64 Intervals part 3

There is also a tutorial you can work through if this helps:

https://www.teoria.com/en/tutorials/intervals/ 

Now try this test to check your understanding. Again, you can set the level you want to try.

https://www.teoria.com/en/exercises/ii.php   Interval identification

Performance:

Choose a piece of music you are learning or can already play. Find 2 or 3 performances of it online by different players/singers. Write a short review of each one. What do you like/dislike about the performance and why? This will help you think about a performance and how you can personalise it to suit you. It helps to hear a range of versions in order to do this.

Listening:

It is important you broaden your knowledge of music for A level rather than just listening to your favourite styles. Pick a genre of music you know very little about. Do some research and listening into this style of music. 

Extension tasks:

If you have completed all the above work but would like to do some more. Here are some websites you may find useful that have music theory tutorials and exercises you can work through.

https://www.teoria.com/index.php 

https://www.musictheory.net/exercises 

https://www.mymusictheory.com/learn-music-theory/reference 

You can also do some composing, practice your instrument and listen to music.

Most importantly, take any opportunities there are to watch live music of any kind!

We look forward to seeing you at the start of the A level course!