Music

Music Department

Higher Music Performance Examples.mp4

Levels Available

National 3-5

Music allows learners to develop practical skills in performing and creating music, while developing their understanding of music styles and concepts. This subject will meet the needs of a wide variety of learners with a range of musical interests.

In this strand, learners will develop their understanding of music concepts and musical literacy. They will develop their ability to recognise and distinguish level-specific music signs, symbols and concepts as they perform, create and listen to music.

This option involves learning TWO instruments.

Assessment

National 3

There is no final exam.

Units are assessed based on work completed in class.

Performance - samples collected and internally assessed.

Understanding Music/Composition - evidence collected throughout the year to demonstrate understanding.

Successful completion of the National 3 allows pupils entry to National 4 Music.

National 4

There is no final exam.

Units are assessed based on work completed in class.

Performance - 8-minute practical performance recorded and internally assessed.

Understanding Music/Composition - evidence collected throughout the year to demonstrate understanding.

Successful completion of the National 3 allows pupils entry to National 4 Music.

National 5

National 5 had two final exams - Performance and Understanding Music. Composition is externally assessed.

Performance - 50%
Understanding Music - 35%
Composition - 15%

Performance

Candidates must demonstrate their performing skills by presenting a prepared programme of music. Candidates perform for 8 minutes. The following aspects are assessed throughout each piece;

Melodic accuracy/intonation
Rhythmic accuracy
Maintaining tempo and flow of the music
Conveying mood and character
Instrumental/vocal tone
Dynamics

Understanding Music

Candidates demonstrate their conceptual knowledge and understanding of Music by responding to questions that relate to excerpts of music in different styles. This exam is undertaken during the normal exam diet in May.

Composition

Candidates create their own music, exploring and developing their own musical ideas. Pupils then reflect on their composition, providing a detailed account of the main decisions, strengths and areas for development. Pupils complete this work within class time.

Ideal Candidates

The qualities required for the ideal Music candidate are:

Confident - performance

Committed - good worth ethic

Responsible - taking ownership of learning

Disciplined - practice time

What You Will Learn

Performing Skills

In this part of the course, learners will develop performing skills on two selected instruments, or on one selected instrument and voice. They will perform level-specific music with sufficient accuracy while maintaining the musical flow. Learners will, through regular practice and reflection, develop technical and musical performing skills.

Composing Skills

Learners will experiment and explore music concepts in imaginative ways when creating their own music.

They will reflect on their own creative choices and decisions, and develop a basic understanding of how composers develop their ideas and create their music.

Understanding Music

Through listening, learners will develop knowledge and understanding of a variety of level-specific music concepts and music literacy. They will identify the distinguishing features of specific music styles, recognise music concepts in excerpts of music, and understand and recognise common music signs and symbols used in music notation.

Higher

The Higher Music course provides candidates with a broad practical experience of performing, creating and understanding/analysing music.

In the Higher Music course, candidates develop a breadth of knowledge and understanding of music concepts and musical literacy. Pupils learn to recognise and distinguish level-specific music concepts, signs and symbols as they perform, create and listen to music.

Assessment

Higher Music has three external assessments:

Practical Examination - Feb/March (50%)
Written Examination - May (35%)
Composition and Review Assignment submission to SQA - April (15%)

Practical Examination

An external SQA visiting assessor will assess all candidates on their chosen two instruments or one instrument and voice. This element counts for 50% of their overall grade. The exam for this is normally in February/March.

Requirements

Perform for 12-13 minutes.
Minimum of 4 minutes on one instrument/voice
Grade 4 level music
Minimum of 2 pieces on each instrument.

Written Elements

Assignment - Composition, Review and Analysis

The assignment allows candidates to explore and develop musical ideas to create music. It has two parts:

Composing one piece of music
Reviewing the creative process of their composition or arrangement

The composed piece or arrangement can be in any style and must last a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 3 minutes 30 seconds.

The composition or arrangement is submitted to the SQA in April for external assessment. This area of the course contributes to 15% of the overall grade.

Question Paper

1 hour

35% of the final grade

The question paper assesses candidates’ knowledge and understanding of music concepts and music literacy.

Candidates demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of music concepts by responding to a range of question types that relate to excerpts of music in different styles.

Ideal Candidate

Candidates who have completed National 5 Music with an A or a B pass.
Confidence
Commitment - practising and studying
Sociable
Reliable

What you will learn

Practical - Performance

Candidates will continue to develop their performing skills on their two chosen instruments or one instrument and voice.

Through regular practise, they will perfect the following:

Melody accuracy
Rhythmic accuracy
Tempo and flow of the music
Mood and character
Tone
Dynamics

Assignment - Composition

Candidates will learn to develop a range of musical ideas by creating their own music. They will use various music software in the creation process to complete a composition.

Candidates will self-reflect on their own original music and the creative journey by identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

Understanding Music

Learners will learn level-specific concepts and music literacy, by working through five units of work.

Renaissance Music
Baroque Music
Classical Music
Romantic/20th Century
Literacy

These will enhance the listening and music literacy skills of learners through various activities while exploring a variety of music.

Advanced Higher

The Advanced Higher Music course provides candidates with broad practical experience in performing, creating and understanding/analysing music.

In the Advanced Higher Music course, candidates develop a breadth of knowledge and understanding of music concepts and musical literacy. Pupils learn to recognise and distinguish level-specific music concepts, signs and symbols as they perform, create and listen to music.

Assessment

Advanced Higher Music has three external assessments

Practical Examination - April/May (50%)
Written Examination - May (35%)
Composition, Review and Analysis Assignment submission to SQA - April (15%)

Practical Examination

An external SQA visiting assessor will assess all candidates using their chosen two instruments or one instrument and voice. This element counts for 50% of their overall grade. The exam for this is normally in April/May.

Requirements

Perform for 18 - 20 minutes.
Minimum of 6 minutes on one instrument/voice
Grade 5 level music
Minimum of 2 pieces on each instrument.

Written Elements

Assignment - Composition, Review and Analysis

The assignment allows candidates to explore and develop musical ideas to create music. It has three parts:

Composing or arranging one piece of music
Reviewing the creative process of their composition or arrangement
Analysing a chosen piece of music

The composed piece or arrangement can be in any style and must last a minimum of 1 minute and a maximum of 4 minutes 30 seconds.

The composition or arrangement is submitted to the SQA in April for external assessment. This area of the course contributes to 15% of the overall grade.

Question Paper

1 hour 15 minutes

35% of the final grade

The question paper assesses candidates’ knowledge and understanding of music concepts and music literacy.

Candidates demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of music concepts by responding to a range of question types that relate to excerpts of music in different styles.

Ideal Candidate

Candidates who have completed Higher Music with an A or a B pass.
Confidence
Commitment - practising and studying
Sociable
Reliable

Ideal Candidate

Practical - Performance

Candidates will continue to develop their performing skills on their two chosen instruments or one instrument and voice.

Through regular practise, they will perfect the following:

Melody accuracy
Rhythmic accuracy
Tempo and flow of the music
Mood and character
Tone
Dynamics

Assignment - Composition or Arrangement

Candidates will learn to develop a range of musical ideas by creating their own music. They will use various music software in the creation process to complete a composition or an arrangement.

Candidates will self-reflect on their own original music and the creative journey by identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

Assignment - Analysis

The analysis will allow learners to choose a piece of music from any style that they enjoy and look at this more in-depth by identifying the prominent features:

The Social and cultural influences
Background of the Composer/Performer(s)
Melody and Harmony
Rhythm and Tempo
Texture and Structure
Timbre and Dynamics

Understanding Music

Learners will learn level-specific concepts and music literacy, by working through four units of work.

Renaissance Music
Baroque Music
Classical Music
Romantic/20th Century
Literacy

These will enhance the listening and music literacy skills of learners through various activities while exploring a variety of music.

Future Pathways

Music can lead to a broad range of opportunities and careers due to the transferable skills gained through the creative arts.

University courses related to the subject can include;

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

BEd Music (Hons)
BMus (Hons) Performance
BMus (Hons) Composition
BMus (Hons) Jazz
BMus (Hons) Traditional Music

University of Aberdeen

BMus (Hons)
BEd Music (Hons)

Edinburgh Napier University

BA (Hons)

University of Edinburgh

BMus (Hons)

University of Glasgow

BMus (Hons)

University of the Highlands and Islands

Studying music can lead to many different and varied careers, some of which are listed below:

Performing, songwriting, composing, classroom teacher, music production, artist management, marketing and PR, music journalism, concert promoter, backing singer, blogger, booking agent, composer, DJ, event manager, instrument technician, live sound technician, music therapist, musical director, musician, private music teacher, radio producer, singer, songwriter, sound engineer, tour manager, musical theatre, stage management.