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Music

Why study music?

Those who have an enthusiasm for music and enjoy creating, performing and listening to it should consider A-level music. It will allow you to develop further the wide range of subject knowledge and other skills you started to develop at GCSE.

Music is a highly regarded A-level both by  universities and future employers due to the diverse nature of  skills developed during the course, which will equip you for a broad range of careers, not just in music. A-level music is not just a creative subject, but an academic one, which gives breadth to your profile. It counts like any other arts qualification and can lead into many different fields. Dan Chugg, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Burma did a music Masters degree before he joined the Foreign Office!

What our students say

“I love music as a subject and all the teachers are helpful and supportive. The challenge of the three aspects, performance, composition/harmony and analysis excited me. No other subjects offer such a contrasting skill set. Music also provides me with a contrasting subject to my scientific others (maths and physics) and the style of teaching is totally different, which I really enjoy.” Abbie

“I enjoyed the subject at GCSE and enjoy the instruments I play. My favourite aspect is composition because it gives me great freedom of expression. The teachers are great, both kind and supportive and I enjoy learning about different genres of music with them such as film music, instrumental music and fusion.” Lewis

Entry requirements

Grade 6 in music at GCSE plus working at grade 5 standard, in theory and practice.

Potential courses

  • Music
  • English
  • History
  • Philosophy
  • Psychology
  • Geography
  • Engineering

Potential careers

  • Musician
  • Dancer
  • Teacher
  • Arts administration
  • Media
  • Politics

The A-level course

Unit%of A-levelContent
Unit 1: Performing 35% or 25%Pupils may opt for either weighting, which must be the other choice weighting for Unit 2. In the final performance, examined by an external examiner, they perform 10 (35%) or 6 (25%) minutes. Standard difficulty level is grade 6. High grades accrue extra credit. One performance is assessed each half term. Pupils are encouraged to participate in co-curricular music ensembles and competitions to hone their skills.
Unit 2: Composing35% or 25%Pupils work towards producing a portfolio of three compositions (35%) 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 (only for 35%) must reflect the musical techniques and conventions of a different area of study and the third composition is a free composition.
Unit 3: Appraising Written examination 2 hours 15 minutes.40The knowledge and understanding of musical elements, contexts and language will be applied to two areas of study in year 12: The Development of the Symphony 1750-1900 including set works - Haydn's "London" Symphony and Musical Theatre. In year 13 a further area "Into the 20th Century", including works by Poulenc and Debussy, is studied. As well as questions related to these set works, there will be extended questions asking students to draw links with music heard as an unfamiliar extract and shorter questions testing aural dictation skills.

Alumni – where are they now?

Holly (2020) studying at Birmingham University

Lucy-Anne (2020) studying at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire

Karen (2020) studying at Cambridge University

Hannah (2019) studying at Kings College London

Abbie (2019) studying at Durham University

Robert (2019) studying at the Guildhall

Daniel (2018) studying at  Oxford Brookes University

Or, if you prefer to chat to someone please call our admissions team. For Senior School call 0113 228 5121 and for Primary School call 0113 228 5113.