A Level Music

Level: 3 | Duration: 2 Years | Details: September | Exam Board: EDUQAS

Please note all of our A Level courses must be studied as part of a full time A Level programme. You will choose 3 A level subjects to study over two years.

What is this course about?
A level Music is a highly respected academic qualification. It pushes students to the limits of their creativity, practical skills, and musical knowledge. You need to really love the subject to take on the challenge of this A level, particularly Music Theory as this is the main focus of most lessons.

Over the course of two years at Cronton you will visit prestigious concert halls to watch the best musicians in the world perform. We run several live performances each year, at which you will have the opportunity to perform. If you are looking to apply for prestigious universities, Music is a great choice to stand out from the crowd.

What will I do?
Music A Level covers the three components of Performance, Composition and Listening and Analysing. You can choose to study more performance (35%) and less composition (25%) or vice versa. The Listening and Analysing component is worth 40% of your final grade. Performance is assessed by a visiting examiner during the second year of the course and you are expected to be playing at Grade 6 standard for 10 to 12 minutes. Composition requires a piece composed in the Western Classical Tradition (a brief for this is set by the exam board) and a second piece which can be a free composition. As part of the Listening and Analysing paper, you will study the Development of the Symphony, including set works by Haydn and Mendelssohn, Music of the Twentieth Century, including set works by Debussy and Poulenc and Jazz from 1920 to 1960.

Shakespeare North Playhouse is working in partnership with Cronton College to highlight career opportunities within the theatre and also the wider Creative Industries sector, offering students industry insight through inspiring experiences.

Entry requirements:
A minimum of 3 x Grade 5’s and 2 x Grade 4’s at GCSE including a Grade 5 in English Language. One of your Grade 5’s must be in Music*. We expect our students to be working at around Grade 4/5 standard on their chosen instrument/singing. All Music A Level applicants will be invited to attend an audition before being offered a place on the course.

*If you haven’t taken GCSE music you will need to have passed the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam before you enrol at college. You will also need to pass an audition.

Why choose this course?
You need to really love music to take on the challenge of this A level.  You will build your creative skills, developing a professional standard portfolio of your own written music.  Students develop to a minimum of Grade 6 performance standard (ABRSM, Rockschool, Trinity / LCM exam boards) by the end of the course.  You will also have an incredible technical knowledge of the way music works, and the way musical ensembles function.  This can set you up for a career in technical professions, the humanities, the arts, management – the list is endless.

Over the course of your two years at Cronton you will visit prestigious concert halls and gig venues to watch the best musicians in the world perform.  We run several live performances each year, both inside and outside college.  You will hear your own music performed and recorded.  If you are looking to apply for prestigious universities, music is a great choice to stand out from the crowd.

How will I be assessed?
The performance component is assessed by a visiting examiner during the second year of your course. Compositions are sent to the exam board for marking by an external examiner and the Listening and Analysing component consists of one written paper assessed in June of your second year.

Enrichment Opportunities:
As you would expect, A Level Music is based around extra-curricular commitment and Cronton Sixth Form College offers a wide range of performance opportunities that benefit the wider community. As a Centre of Excellence the department is committed to a wide range of industry standard productions throughout the year and you are encouraged to be a part of this. Our Centre of Excellence performs THREE major musicals and a series of concerts throughout the year in our state of the art theatre, The Cronton Playhouse. A Level Music students form the backbone of both the orchestra and stage performance groups. We also offer the opportunity to experience the best shows the world has to offer, including regular trips to New York, Paris and London.

Facilities:
Specialist music room and sound-proof practice rooms

The Cronton Playhouse is a 320 seat theatre with orchestra pit. The theatre is home to the very latest technology and an advanced technical booth offering new spectacular effects and high impact sound to further enhance the Centre of Excellence performances to industry standard.

What can this course lead on to?
You will develop your creative and theoretical skills to enable you to access any University or Conservatoire of your choice. Students develop to a minimum of Grade 6 performance standard (ABRSM, Rockschool, Trinity / LCM exam boards) by the end of the course. You will have an incredible theoretical knowledge of the way music works, and the way musical ensembles function. The list of progression for Music is endless, with approximately 50% of students choosing to continue Music at University and the other 50% choosing courses that are not directly Music related.

Any additional costs?
No specific books or equipment is required, as long as you have access to the instrument of your choosing to practise at home.

The Cronton Experience:
During your time at Cronton Sixth Form College, you will have the opportunity to take part in a number of different enrichment activities in your free time. These will increase your enjoyment of your studies and equip you for further success. Click the image below for more information!