The department currently teaches the AQA specification. The various components will allow us to develop pupils’ musical strengths and introduce them to new aspects of musical styles and techniques.

Component 1: Understanding music (40%)

Pupils will study and investigate a wide variety of music, including Western classical tradition 1650-1910; Popular Music; Traditional and World Music; Western music since 1910. Pupils will take a listening paper  (AQA 8271) at the end of the course in which they have to respond to questions of extracts played on a CD. There will also be questions on a variety of set works which include Haydn Symphony No.101; extracts from Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; extracts from Santana’s album Supernatural; and Copland’s Rodeo.

Component 2: Performing music (30%)

Pupils will be required to perform a solo piece and an ensemble piece (minimum of two players). These are assessed internally at any time during the course. Pupils may repeat a piece for assessment should they wish to do so. A minimum of four minutes and a maximum of seven minutes of performance in total is required, of which a minimum of one minute must be the ensemble performance. The performances are marked internally and moderated by AQA.

Component 3: Composing music (30%)

Pupils will be required to submit two compositions, one of which will be a response to a brief set by the board in September of the Upper 5. The second piece is a free composition of the pupils choosing. Compositions can be in variety of styles using either notation (Sibelius) or sequencing (LogicPro) software. The compositions are marked internally and moderated by AQA.