Music

Bilborough offers separate courses in both Music and Music Technology, following the new 2008 Edexcel specifications. The Music course provides a natural progression from Music GCSE, continuing areas of Performing, Composing and Musical Understanding.

Students intending to take the Music course must have good performing skills (at or above Grade V level, though this can be in any style) together with some understanding of music theory (ideally also at above Grade V level, but aptitude is more important than previous experience). It is useful to have taken music at GCSE level, but this is not essential.

Some students opt to take both Music and Music Technology. This is a sensible choice for able students who intend to continue studying music in higher education, although students are always well advised to consult the specific entry requirements of individual HE institutions.

All students of Music are expected to take an active role in the musical life of the College including an involvement in concerts, productions and ensembles.

AS Level

What will I learn?

The course demands performing, composing, listening and analytical skills in almost equal measure. You will improve your skills in performing and composing in a range of styles. You will listen to a wide variety of music and develop a more informed appreciation of how and why it was written and/or performed.

What kind of student is this course suitable for?

Anyone who has a keen interest in creating and listening to different styles of music and who wishes to broaden their experience and deepen their understanding of both live and recorded music. The AS music course focuses on the development of classical music through the study of Instrumental and Vocal Music set works.

The AS qualification consists of the following three modules:

Unit 1: Performing

In this unit you will develop your skills as a musical performer. You can perform on any musical instrument or you can sing and you will have the opportunity to take part in ensemble performances as well as performing solo. You will perform a set of pieces of your choice, with or without accompaniment, lasting between five and six minutes. Your teacher assesses this unit through a recording of your solo and/or ensemble performances.

Unit 2: Composing

In this unit you will learn the craft of composing. You will develop musical ideas in the form of a three-minute original composition. You must write music in response to a set brief by Edexcel and complete CD style sleeve notes concerning your composition. All work is completed under supervised conditions and students must produce a musical score and recording of their composition as part of the assessment.

Unit 3: Developing Musical Understanding

Throughout the course, you will be expected to improve your understanding of set musical works and develop your analytical and listening skills. This unit is in three sections. In Section A you will listen to CD extracts and answer questions related to set works. In Section B you must identify and comment on musical and historical features from the set works. In Section C you must analyse harmonic and melodic features in unfamiliar music and complete a SATB exercise.

Beyond AS

What do I do after completing the AS?

You can obtain a certificate at the end of the AS course, or you can continue studying for a further year to obtain the full Advanced GCE qualification.

Advanced GCE in Music

The full Advanced GCE qualification is made up of the AS units plus three more units studied at a higher level. You will be expected to continue performing during the second year of the course and work on original compositions and compositional exercises. You will perform a short public recital and offer a portfolio of composition work. A written paper covering further Musical Understanding is similar to the AS paper, but the questions are more demanding and require study in greater depth.

What could I go on to do at the end of my course?

The Advanced GCE in Music can lead to further study in Music, Music Technology or Performing Arts at Higher National or Degree level. The Advanced GCE can also help you on your way to a career in the music industry. Students can also progress to Performance based courses at music conservatoires after their time at Bilborough.

Some of the information is extracted from Edexcel’s student guides. These, together with the full specifications, are available from the Edexcel website.