In September I'm starting AS-Level Music on the 'Edexcel' syllabus. Is anyone on the forum taking this at the moment or recently took it? If so, do you know what's included on the course in terms of composition and performance and how hard it is?

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

i agree... i'm taking it next year as well..

i took it last year with AQA asnd i found it really enjoyable, get my results when im on holiday 19th August argh!

Naomi has just taken it with Edexcel so she will tell you more about that course!

I'm taking the Edexcel AS course next year too - have just discovered that at A2 you can choose out of composing or performing... *Sardine crosses fingers in hope that this is true!* - Goodbye composition!

Anyway, back to the topic in hand - you might find this website useful

Edexcel AS-Level Music Page

Will be checking back here to find out what other people found the course like

thanks very much...

[COLOR=blue]What is this course?
Are you studying this at a college?
Is this a home study/correspondence course????????

Hello there!

I ahve done my AS level music With Edexcel. Its a really enjoyable course.
I take it you know the sections it is split into. The perofming isnt hard, You ahve performing during the course, a recorded solo ad a 6 mintue recital well that is what i had to do. I found it really enjoyable and most of the people taking the msuic cours get on really well.
I foudn the composition side a little dificult, but that it becasue that is my weak area. there is no reason why you should find it hard. I loved the course and would ercomed it to any musical person, who is willing to also put a little time and energy into a course, as it will bring you out with remarkable experiances and results.

hope that helps, nothing i can really say except, hope u enjoy the course and that make the most of it, as it is fantistic what u gain!

x

Yeah I'm taking Edexcel AS next year too.

QUOTE

I'm taking the Edexcel AS course next year too - have just discovered that at A2 you can choose out of composing or performing... *Sardine crosses fingers in hope that this is true!* - Goodbye composition!

Yeah that's true... but I'm leaning slightly (OK, a lot) towards composition, unlike you, Sardine!!!!
I really messed up the performing at GCSE... still waiting for result *crosses fingers*- Less than a month to go now!!!
Actually I think at A2 you still have to do a little composition- the "Compositional techniques" paper, but not an actual composition. And at A2 you still have to do the "Performing during the course", but not the solo recital... So, good and bad, depending on how you look at it!
(Yes I have done my research I am totally obsessed with these Edexcel exams!!! )
In reply to your query, jkhouse20, the course is as follows:

Performing: 1) Solo performance(s) must last 5-6 minutes
2) Performing During the Course, 4 performances adding up to approximately 9-10 minutes duration, including one solo, one ensemble piece and one of your own compositions (this does not necessarily have to be the one you write for the AS composing, but can be)

Composing: 1) Complete 2 tasks from different topics ("compositional techniques exercises")
2) Write one free composition of at least 3 minutes duration based on one of the topics set by Edexcel... variations, neo-classicism, etc.

"Listening and Understanding": 1) 45-minute listening test, 4 questions on extracts of music, similar but not identical to GCSE if you have taken that.
2) 90-minute written paper, answering questions on the 2 Areas of Study you have focused on during the course (unmarked copies of the New Anthology of Music must be taken into the exam)

I don't think that sounds too hard, just scary!!!!

Hope that helps

Cecilia

hi all

i to am taking the course next year....... and im sooo excited. If you found GCSE boring AS is a complete change.

all i can say (which is the way i look at it) is that if you really enjoy the subject and have passion for it, you will enjoy and suceed in it regardless of difficulty and amounts.

QUOTE

I'm taking the Edexcel AS course next year too - have just discovered that at A2 you can choose out of composing or performing... *Sardine crosses fingers in hope that this is true!* - Goodbye composition!

yes this is true, however at our school we do both and see which area wud give us the highest marks

while we are here........ which area are you most likely to study??? performing, composistion or directing???

speak to you all soon!!

jaime

Composing yay!!!!
I'm kinda addicted to it since I started for GCSE last September...

Thank you to everyone for all your help and advice. Good luck to everyone taking the course this year!

thanks everyone... i must get a nice AS as well as A-level result... but now...i'm waiting 4 my gcses...oh no........i did so ooooo badly...

Don't worry liebe klavier, only 22 more days until the GCSE results come out now!!!

i do hope that my result will look nice...especially music...

only 13 days till the AS and A levles come out! im away again then,they come out the day after i go on another holiday! im ringing up!

so i hope you all get A*'s in music which im sure you will! lol

and ill find a way of letting you know my music AS although im not sure il want to tell you!