im just about to start my GCSE's and im taking A-level music when we return in september...

can anyone fill me in on the stuff i can look forward to doing???

thanks jaime!!!

Yes, i'm interested too. I'm doing GCSE music and i am studying A/S level music and music technology next year, when i talk to anyone who does it to find out what its about, they just say how wonderful it is. I want to know what it includes!

Hmm - well it was a long time ago, and it does depend on the exam board/syllabus you will be following, but this is what we did.

Harmony
We learned basic harmony, ie how to harmonise a melody in four parts in the style of a Bach chorale. On paper that is - without access to a keyboard.

Music history and appreciation
We studied two pieces of music in depth for the whole two years - ours were Brahms' 2nd Piano Concerto and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. We had to analyse these pieces of music in great depth so that we could confidantly write essays on different aspects of them in the final exam.

We also learned about various musical forms, such as sonata form etc

We also learned the basics of all the musical periods in history from Renaissance to modern and learned and performed samples of music from each period in class

Performance
I forget exactly the requirements, but there was definitely a performance aspect to it.

Composition
We had to do two set pieces in certain styles, choose from a selection of two sets of lyrics to set to music and also do a fairly lengthy free composition.

Things may well have changed in the last 13 years (My God has it been that long . . . )

ooh im doing it now and its great!!! ull have loads of fun!!!lol

If you do AQA then the set pieces are changing. But you do three set works, which you have to write essays about and listening questions. And then one area of study that your teacher chooses. You do some composing and ensemble performances aswell. The other exam boards are similar, and its really good fun!!!
If you enjoyed GCSE you'll like AS too!
What do you play??

x

Im currently teaching A-level music (Only elements of the course though!), and theres lots of things you need to do!

Performnce: You have to keep a record of the performances you do throughout the year, Record a solo peroformance and when I was at school we did a mini recital (approx 7 mins)

Composition: You have to compose 2 pieces i think in As and then when you get into A2 you choose either to do a composition portfolio or a recital which lasts approx 20 mins.

Compositional techniques: You get an exam on 2 areas of this paper (you can pick the 2 topics) and you study either 2 part counterpoint, Bach Chorale, Popular song, Minimalism, 12 bar blues (I cant remember what others are on the list, but you should get the idea!)

Analysis consists of antholigy topics. You study 2 areas in AS and then carry one of those topics through to A2 and then pick a new one. you can pick from for example: Keyboard music, Sacred Vocal Music, Secular Vocal Music, Music for Large Ensemble, Music for Small ensemble, Popular music and Jazz, Music for Film and Television. In these lessons you study particular works within your chosen topic and have to answer questions and essay in the exam. I studied Music for Lrge ensemble and Sacred Vocal Music in As and then film and Tv and Sacred Vocal Music in A2. You learn about different style, composers etc

Aural: You have a listening paper, based similalry to the GCSE paper but obviously harder, covering all the general stuff,

I cant think of anything else that is usually covered. I know this may seem alot but really its not that bad and I enjoyed my a-level course and I am enjoying teaching it now, 2 years later. I hope this helps, If you need any more help, send me an email or post a new message!

QUOTE (elmo @ May 8 2004, 04:44 PM)

What do you play??

I play the flute (gd 6) and violin (gd4). hopefully this will come in handy with A/s level

I currently teach at a Sixth Form College which uses the Edexcel syllabus. I think the most important thing you can do to prepare yourself for A level music is to have sufficient pieces of Grade 5+ standard in your repertoire to fulfill the performance requirements.

In your AS year you'll need around 10 minutes worth of pieces of at least Grade 5 standard. In your A2 year you'll need an additional 5 minutes or so of Grade 6+ pieces, plus another 20 minutes of Grade 6+ if you are doing the recital option. You cannot play the same pieces for A2 that you played for AS.

The people who have the most trouble with the performance parts of the course are those who have only just passed Grade 4 when they start their course. Grade 5 pieces vary in length, but for some instruments they tend to be on the short side (a lot of piano exam pieces come into this category). So the students are trying to learn 4 or 5 pieces which may be quite challenging for them, between September and the beginning of May, in one of the most demanding years academically.

If you already have Grade 5 and 6 level pieces in your repertoire, keep them ticking over, and don't mothball them too soon. You may find you need them