For centuries, music has been used as a way of exploring creativity and expressing oneself. This course has been designed to develop musicality and promote the core musical skills that all musicians must possess to be successful. We will explore performance and look at contemporary music and how it is shared and created. At its heart, music is about finding ways of expressing yourself and communicating with others, and this course promotes these core skills.
What is involved in the Music course?
The course is divided into four key units of study.
Introducing Music Performance: In this topic you will work with our instrumental teachers to develop your performance skills, to rehearse and perform a solo and an ensemble piece of music.
Introducing Live Sound: This topic provides you with the opportunity to get hands on with the latest sound technology and explore how music technology is used to aid performance. You will be taught how to use microphones and mixing desks effectively to amplify sound for a live concert.
Managing a Music Product: You will work collaboratively to create and develop your own music product. This could be your own gig, or concert series, or could be a radio programme or music magazine.
The Music Industry: In this topic you will learn about how the music industry works and how the different organisations and individuals function to ensure the success of the multi-million pound industry.
How will you be assessed?
As this is a vocational course, much of the assessment is through work that you complete during the lessons and at home throughout the two years on the course. Three of the units are assessed internally, and there will be a mixture of video and sound recordings, as well as written work to evidence your progress against the grading criteria.
“The Music Industry” unit is an externally assessed unit, which is a synoptic examination lasting 1 hour. In this exam you will use knowledge and skills developed throughout the course to answer questions which focus on different areas of the music industry.
In order to achieve a grade in the course you must successfully complete and pass each component.
What can you do with Music in the future?
The skills that you will develop whilst learning Music are complementary to the skills that are required to be successful in many jobs, both inside and outside the performing arts industry. Music is renowned for developing skills such as self-management, creativity, data analysis, teamwork, communication, and problem solving.
This subject naturally leads onto other Performing Arts and Music courses which can be studied at Key Stage 5, both with A Levels and with BTEC Nationals. The subject is seen as an academic one which promotes self-discipline whilst building on collaboration, making it an excellent option subject for anyone wanting to go onto university in the future.
What do you need to do to prepare for the course?
You will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument to an advanced level, and so access to a musical instrument at home will be important. We do have support mechanisms for families to ensure that students can access musical instruments to assist their learning.
Music is a skill which involves commitment and dedication. You will need to be resilient and have a desire to succeed, both in the performance aspects and in the music technology units. A considerable amount of the course is evidenced through written work, and so good communication skills are essential if you are going to be successful; it is not just singing and playing!
Student/Staff/Famous Person quote about the subject
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
