Music A Level [Y1]

During our Music A-Level, you will study a range of set works that will expand your musical horizons. The work you do in the classroom will be enhanced by incredible trips to hear professional performances. You'll round off the course with a solo recital!

During this two-year A-Level course, you will study three areas of music - performance, composing, and understanding music. The performance topic will be focussed on you learning how to perform on their instrument (or voice) with confidence, skill and accuracy. The composing aspect will teach you skills and techniques for composing songs or instrumental pieces in a variety of styles, both as free composition and to a set brief. You will also learn compositional techniques using traditional harmony. The third topic of the course will see you study a range of set works that are certain to expand your musical horizons. Classroom listening, learning and written work will be enhanced by trips to hear professional performances. In addition to the course work, ongoing instrumental and vocal tuition is essential and is available through our team of academy teachers who work within the East Sussex Academy of Music.

Your assessment for this course will require you to give a public performance of one or more pieces, performed as a recital of at least eight minutes. You will submit a portfolio of one composition and one compositional technique exercise, which will be externally assessed. You will also undertake a two-hour written exam which will assess your understanding of music. There are questions testing your aural ability, as well as two essay questions.

Our general entry criteria to study 3 A-Levels is: Minimum five GCSEs grade 4-9 with English Language or Maths at grade 5. For a mixed Level 3 programme the criteria are: Minimum five GCSEs grade 4-9 with English Language or Maths at grade 4. Subject specific entry criteria apply:A GCSE grade 4 in English Language.You will need to demonstrate your ability to play an instrument or sing and understand music theory to grade 5 standard.

Once you have completed this course, you could follow in the footsteps of many of our former students who have gone on to study at university or music institutes.