CAREERS IN MUSIC

FAQ

Do I have to have done GCSE Music?

No you don't. However, you should be able to read notation, be playing or singing at around Grade IV standard or above and have an interest in Classical Music and Musical Theatre.

Who will be in my class?

Class sizes are usually around 10 - 12 students, meaning you get plenty of individual support from your teacher. You may be in a class with pianists, singers, clarinettists, flautists, guitarists, bassists, violinists.....and many others!

You could meet some other people interested in the course in our welcome session....

Who will be teaching me?

Your teacher will be Alison Willis, (who prefers to be called Ali! You tend to call teachers by their first name at QMC.) Ali is a composer, pianist and folk musician and you could find out more about her here.

Ali will be running the welcome session.

What will I learn?

To be a well rounded creative musician who can understand what they hear!

We follow the EDUQAS syllabus. There are three components, Performing, Composing and Appraising (which means listening and analysing). You can choose to specialise in either Performing or Composing, that's one of the reasons why we chose this syllabus!

What is involved in the Performing component?

By the end of your course (March/May in your second year) you will need to perform a recital of either 6-8 minutes or 10-12 minutes to an external examiner in our Performance Space at QMC. This needs to be of at least Grade VI standard (but you don't have to have taken a graded exam.)

Ali will work with you on this and can usually accompany you if you need an accompanist. You can also perform to a backing track.

Every A Level student gets a 30 minute instrumental or singing lesson with one of our excellent peripatetic staff as part of their course.

What is involved in the Composing component?

By Easter in your second year you will need to submit two or three compositions. One will be in a Western Classical style, one in a Musical Theatre style and if you are specialising in composition the third is a free composition.

Ali is a composer and loves teaching it, so don't worry! We do lots of practical exercises and plenty of music theory to help you express your musical ideas effectively.

What do we do in Appraising?

We study the Western Classical Tradition, looking at the development of the Symphony and focusing particularly on Haydn's Symphony 104.

We also study Musical Theatre, working out what we can hear and why the composer has written it that way.

In the second year we start Into The Twentieth Century, looking at pieces bu Debussy and Poulenc and how they fit into the changing sounds of the time.

When do I get to play music?

Individually you will have your instrumental or singing lesson once a week. Our practice rooms are open all day every day for your use, just don't eat in them please!

We have three concerts a year, Autumn, Spring and the Performing Arts Christmas Concert which features singing, dancing and acting (and Christmas Carols). You might perform solos or ensemble pieces in these. You'll definitely be singing or playing in the carols!

We also run the Pit Band for our big musical in January. This is performed by our full time Performing Arts classes but they need a live band....and no I can't tell you what it is yet!

We also have a number of other ensembles in the Music Department, depending on what instruments people play. In recent years these have included Barber Shop, String Quartet, Recorder Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble.

Do we do any good trips?

Usually yes, however COVID-19 has had an impact. Typically we would go to concerts, a musical and for those who would like there is a Performing Arts Trip to New York most summers.

Do I need to want a career in Music?

No! Obviously it's an option, but we also have students go on to study quantum physics, law and nursing!

Universities and employers really like A Level Music, it shows you are a creative thinker, a team player, a listener, a problem solver, self disciplined...what's not to like?!

I'm a bit worried about....

Email Ali! alison.willis@qmc.ac.uk