Music
The Music Department follows the AQA GCSE Specification which is designed for all those who have an interest in all types of music from a range of periods, genres and cultures. The course consists of four units.
Unit 1: Listening to and Appraising Music. (20%)
Students explore five areas of Study: Rhythm and Metre, Harmony and Tonality, Texture and Melody, Timbre and Dynamics, Structure and Form. These are explored through three strands of learning: The Western Classical Tradition, Popular Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries and World Music. There is a listening exam at the end of the course where students are required to answer questions based on musical extracts drawn from all five Areas of study.
Unit 2: Composing and Appraising Music (20%)
Here, students compose one piece of music linked to two or more of the Areas of Study and to one of the strands specified annually by AQA. Up to 20 hours of Controlled Time is given to complete the task and 2 further hours are given to appraise the process and outcome of the composition.
Unit 3: Performing Music (40%)
Students submit two different pieces, one being an individual and the other a group performance. The standard expected at the higher level is equivalent to Grade IV.
Unit 4: Composing Music (20%)
A further composition again exploring two or more of the Areas of Study in any style or genre is required. Up to 25 hours of Controlled Time is available to complete this task.