A Level Music

WELCOME!

Welcome to course information for A Level Music.

This page will give you further insight into studying A Level music, course details and information to assist your transition to music at Blackpool Sixth.

There is also a short task which is designed to give you a taste of a typical course activity.

COURSE OUTLINE

View the course prospectus information

A Level Music intro.MOV

INTRODUCTION

In this video course tutor John Stevens addresses some common misconceptions about studying A Level Music.

Below you can see the course outline and a list of the set works that are studied throughout this 2 year course.

There is also playlist containing all the set works on our 'sixthmusic' Youtube channel. Click below

You will be required to purchase a copy of the A Level Music Anthology

It looks like this and is available from Pearson directly or from online stores such as Amazon. You do not need to purchase the CD that accompanies the book. The most appropriate versions of the tracks will be made available to you during your studies.

This is the only compulsory purchase you will need to make in order to study A Level Music.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO GET THIS YET but it is worth knowing about


INSTRUMENTAL TUITION AND ENRICHMENT

As part of the course, in order to support you with the performance elements, you will receive a one to one instrumental/ vocal lesson each week.

Your specialist teacher will be working with you to prepare for your recitals in year 1 and 2 of the course. It is expected that you will be performing pieces of music at grade 7 equivalent standard by the time you deliver your final recital. This will give you access to the highest marks for this component of the course which is worth 30% of your final grade.

To support you further you are invited to participate in our music enrichment programme. This typically involves musicians performing in numerous concerts over the academic year including our annual festival of carols, termly music concerts, festivals and competitions, the college annual musical and concert tours. Destinations recently have included Germany, Italy and New York.

Please complete the form below to help us arrange your one to one tuition

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

A Level Music Video.mov

L6 Student hannah doyle

Hannah studies A Level music and is also an active member of our enrichment programme

Beth nsd video.mp4

L6 STUDENT BETH CHARNLEY

Beth discusses how to prepare for studying A Level music

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A LEVEL MUSIC - WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW?

  1. Develop your performance skills

You don't need to practise for hours and hours. You don't even need to practise each day. Little and often works really well and make sure that you have a focus for each practice session.

2. Brush up on your music theory

You should have or be working towards grade 5 in music theory. Exam boards such as ABRSM, Trinity, Rockschool all have courses that you can follow.

Below is a link to musictheory.net which is a fantastic website and app for music theory

Also there is a copy of a Grade 5 standard theory test so you can download and see what might be expected at this level. Have a go!

Music-Theory-Practice-Paper-Grade-5.pdf

3. Listen to music

This might sound really obvious but do try and listen to as much music as you can, for pleasure and to really listen hard to what is going on in the music. Listen beyond the surface and listen to variety of music in contrasting styles, times and places.

  • Who wrote it?

  • When was it first composed?

  • Why was it composed in this way? What external factors may have contributed to the composer writing in this way?

  • What can you hear? Spot the obvious things first like instrumentation, structure etc. Then dig a bit deeper.

  • Describe using musical language

Below is a link to the A Level Music playlist once again so you could start by accessing some of the set works you will be studying. Maybe start with some film music, like Danny Elfman's score for Batman Returns.

TASTER ACTIVITY

Courtney Pine

Courtney Pine is a leading British Jazz musician who's debut album entered the top 40 in the mainstream pop chart.

In this Youtube video you will see his live performance of "Liamuiga (Cook Up)" in which he explores a fusion of music from his heritage with some modern pop techniques.

Watch the video and answer the questions in the Google form below.


Here is a printable resource that may assist you in capturing your observations. You can go straight to the Google form below instead if you like.

CONTACT US

If you would like to contact me directly then you can do so at john.stevens@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk

Alternatively you can fill in our music department contact form HERE