Hi, I'm new to the boards
I play the piano (gr 4) and flute (gr 6), am in year 11 and it's come to that time when we have to choose A levels.

I'd be grateful if anyone who's done music A level could give me any information on what it's like? And was wondering if it's possible to pursue a career in music without music A level? For instance, to take a teaching/other diploma and become a private teacher without it?

Thanks, jenflute

I did *thinks* Edexcel Music A-Level in 2006/7. Do you know which board it'll be with?

You can definitely take a performing diploma without music A-Level (and I would expect all diplomas to be like that), but you would need grade 8. You would need music A-Level to do a music course at a conservatoire or university.

My daughter is in year 11 and wants to persue a career in music. We are lucky that a college not to far away has a fantastic music department. She is really looking forward to going there to study A level one of her options will be music. At this particular college you don't have to be doing A level Music to participate in extra corricular music activities which is great for all musical students.

If you think at this stage if you want music as a career then getting yourself into the strongest position possible to fulfill that goal is a good idea. I know diplomas don't require A level music but I would be surprised if the content didn't have some overlap even if it's only the chance for performing opportunities. I have no knowledge of the written elements of this exam.

You can maybe get away with a teaching diploma if you want to set up as a private instrument teacher. Most people employed as new teachers by music services seem to have a PGCE (or maybe this is only in our area).

Haven't taken A level music - but here are links to the main boards where you can download the course specifications for free and past papers and the like.

http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/arts/music_...=06&prev=06
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/...usic/index.html
http://www.wjec.co.uk/index.php?subject=92...1&list=docs
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gce/gce08/mus...es/default.aspx

Hope that helps.

I did music A level and it was easily the most enjoyable college class I had.

What it involves depends on the specification, but I'm guessing they're all relatively standard in that you have set works to study for a written exam, then you get an aural based written exam then on top of that you have to do some performing and composing. Oh, and harmony; all A level music syllabuses will probably have a Bach chorale or counterpoint or something like that.

In terms of a career in music, it depends. Some universities will consider you if you can prove you are at a level equal to or beyond A level music, say with grade 8 theory and practical or something. Conservatoires don't really care about A levels; they all say a pass in music plus two other subjects which is an E because they are audition based so they can see how you play and a few of them give you listening/theory exams after your audition so they assess your level that way.

Teaching, if you want to do a diploma you just need grade 6 theory plus 8+ practical (then grade 7 theory for LRSM and grade 8 for FRSM). PGCE you need a degree; I am applying for that at the moment so can guarantee that without a music degree you will not get onto PGCE music teaching; it's very competitive these days.

So ultimately, if you are looking at instrumental teaching you don't *need* A level music or a degree, it will just make you stand out more to potential students to say you have those qualifications; non-musical people have no idea what a teaching diploma actually means, they understand degree =P

Classroom/school teaching, yes you do need A level and then you need to go get your degree.

Just to clarify that you need theory if you want to do a teaching diploma, but not for performance I know that the OP sounded like she might want to do a teaching diploma, but just thought I'd point this out.

Okay, thanks for all the replies the reason I posted was that I'm unsure as to whether to take music a level or not, and a career in music isn't something I would automatically think of, but at the same time it is a big part of my life, and if I carry on with learning instruments to higher levels might consider teaching and taking a diploma for that, and was wondering if A level music was an absolute necessity for that, so thank you

One more thing - people who haven't taken music A level, but still play, do you still have that much time to practise? I just worry that if it won't be something I have to do academically, it might get pushed to the back and forgotten.

Ah... life does have a habit of taking over. I managed to continue practising diligently through college (although I didn't take GCSE or A Level music, I was preparing for my G8). It was when I got to Uni that practise really went out the window. I think the problem was stopping having lessons. If I was off to a teacher every week, still learning new music, and with a lesson to work towards practise would still happen. Unfortunately music lessons are no longer financially viable, so practise doesn't happen.

Really it depends on your dedication.

As regards whether you should take A Level music, it depends on what other things you might consider studying in the future. Are you likely to want to focus on science or engineering? If so, then maybe not music A Level. If you're likely to do an arts or humanities subject, then its more likely to be viewed positively by universities. Don't forget that you can drop it after AS. If you aren't likely to want to apply to the top ten or twenty universities, then the choice of sbjects is less significant.

Good luck!