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Music

Why Study Music?

  • If you aspire to perform and compose to an advanced level, and are highly motivated by music
  • If you practice for an hour a day or more
  • If you are prepared to commit to 2 extra curricular music ensembles a week and participate in public concerts
  • If you want to develop your analytical, aural and theoretical skills within the context of musical history from the Classical Period to Contemporary Modern
  • If you enjoy working within a creative, challenging and collaborative atmosphere

What will I study?

The Eduqas A Level Music allows you to play to your strengths since you can choose to either major in performance (option A) or composition (option B).

Option A Performance: 10-12 minutes (35% of qualification)

  • A performance consisting of a minimum of three pieces. 
  • At least one of these pieces must be as a soloist. The other pieces may be either as a soloist or as part of an ensemble or a combination of both. 
  • One piece must reflect the musical characteristics of one area of study. 
  • At least one other piece must reflect the musical characteristics of one other, different area of study. 

 

  • Option A
  • Composition: 4 - 6 minutes (25% of qualification)Learners are required to prepare a portfolio of two compositions, one of which must reflect the musical language, techniques and conventions associated with the Western Classical Tradition in response to a brief set by WJEC. 
  • The second composition is a free composition for which learners set their own brief

Option B  Performance: 6 - 8 minutes (25% of qualification)

  • A performance consisting of a minimum of two pieces either as a soloist or as part of an ensemble or a combination of both. 
  • One piece must reflect the musical characteristics of one area of study. 

Option B  Composition: 8 -10 minutes  (35% of qualification)

  • Learners are required to prepare a portfolio of three compositions, one of which must reflect the musical language, techniques and conventions associated with the Western Classical Tradition in response to a brief set by WJEC. 
  • The second composition must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of one different area of study (i.e. not the Western Classical Tradition)
  • The third composition is a free composition. 

 

Written Paper (40% of qualification)

Section 1: Questions 1 to 6 (30 marks)

  • This section will consist of listening and questions on your chosen area of study:
  • Rock and Pop or
  • Musical Theatre or
  • Jazz

Section 2: Questions 7 to 10 (30 marks)

  • This will consist of 2 questions on the Thomas Ades and Sally Beamish worth 15 marks each

Section 3: Questions 11 to 14 (40 marks)

  • Q.11 will be a listening question on a previously unheard symphony (10 marks)
  • Q.12 and Q.13 are on the Haydn and Mendelssohn set works and you must choose ONE of these, there is no listening component to these questions, it is all prior knowledge from your analysis lessons. You will be given an unmarked copy of the scores which you can have in the exam room (15 marks)
  • Q.14 is a long answer question on the development of the symphony. (15 marks)

 

HOW WILL I STUDY?

Students explore all areas of the course through a programme of class and group workshops, individual and group performances (in and out of school) and on occasion work with professional musicians to further compositional and performance skills. 

Students are expected to organise their own individual practice schedules with their instrumental or vocal teacher and rehearse regularly with others. Teachers guide you through lessons focusing on composition, aural and theory skills, general listening, performance and analysis of set works.