A level
Our 6th Form Open Evening is taking place on 8 November 2023.
In previous years, when we ran our Open Evening as a virtual event, we produced video guides to each subject. These remain relevant and are available as a collected playlist on our YouTube Channel.
The introductory video to life in the 6th Form at Borlase, and a virtual tour of the school are also available to watch.
A level Specification and Curriculum Overview
Course entry requirements
Enthusiastic, hard-working and interesting musicians enjoy this course. A Grade 7 of above at GCSE Music, and suggested AB Grade VI or equivalent in at least one instrument/voice are our standard requirements. However, other qualifications (e.g. general musicianship, AB Grade V Theory, Rockschool qualifications etc.) are also welcome. There is plenty of scope for students with varied musical backgrounds. Students should expect to develop and use basic keyboard skills during the course. Please discuss any questions with Mr Miall.
Course overview
The study of Music develops the independent, group, and creative thinking skills so prized at university admissions and in professional life. And it is great fun! This course is designed to enable students to study music as a practical, intellectual and creative subject. It aims to extend existing musical skills and to develop the understanding to engage with a diverse range of musical cultures through performance, analysis and composition. Please see Mr Miall if you are interested.
There are three units of study: Appraising Music, Performance and Composition.
1 Appraising Music (40%):
Three Areas of Study - Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910 (focused by set works within 3 ‘strands’) and two others from the following: Pop Music, Music for Media, Music for Theatre, Jazz, Contemporary Traditional Music, and Art Music since 1910 (each focused by the study of specified composers or artists). Aural skills (including dictation) and musical understanding are assessed during listening questions, and analysis, contextual, historical skills are assessed through five extended answer questions and one essay. 2½ hour written exam. Externally assessed.
2 Performance (35%):
Performance as a soloist and/or in an ensemble, lasting not less than 10 minutes in total.
Internally recorded and externally assessed.
3 Composition (25%):
2 compositions lasting not less than 4½ minutes in combined total. One should be based on a brief set by the exam board; the second is a free composition that can be in any style. Externally assessed.
Set works/specified composers
The set works studied for Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910 are:
Strand A – Baroque Solo Concerto: H. Purcell Sonata for Trumpet and Strings in D major Z.850; A. Vivaldi Flute Concerto in D Il Gardellino op.10 no.3 RV428; J.S. Bach Violin Concerto in A minor BWV1041
Strand B – The operas of Mozart: W.A. Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro k.492: Act 1, focusing on: overture, no.1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9
Strand C – The piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg: F. Chopin Ballade no.2 in F major op.38 and Nocturne in E minor op.72 no.1; J. Brahms Intermezzo in A major op.118 no.2 and Ballade in G minor op.118 no.3; E. Grieg Norwegian March op.54 no.2 and Notturno op.54 no.4
The specified composers/artists for the other 6 Areas of Study are:
Pop Music: Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Muse, Beyoncé, Daft Punk, Labrinth
Music for Media: Bernard Herrmann, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, Thomas Newman, Nobuo Uematsu
Music for Theatre: Kurt Weill, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Jason Robert Brown
Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Gwilym Simcock
Contemporary Traditional Music: Astor Piazzolla, Toumani Diabaté, Anoushka Shankar, Mariza, Bellowhead
Art Music since 1910: Dmitri Shostakovich, Olivier Messiaen, Steve Reich, James MacMillan
