Music

Key Contacts: 
Val Mizen (Head of Department)  val.mizen@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk
Adam McDonald (Music Teacher) adam.mcdonald@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Syllabus Information:  Examination Board = EDUQAS (WJEC)

A level Music studies build on the musical skills, knowledge and understanding already introduced at Key Stage 4

Music A level course contains 3 Components:

• Coursework Performing (30%) (a Solo Performance & an Ensemble Performance)
• Coursework Composition (30%) (a Free Choice Composition & an Exam Board Set Brief Composition)
• Final Appraising Music Examination (40%)

There are FOUR ‘Set Works’ which must be studied in depth:

• Haydn Symphony 104 (all movements)
• Mendelssohn ‘Italian’ Symphony (all movements)
• Debussy ‘Nuages’ (from Trois Nocturnes)
• Poulenc ‘Trio’ for Oboe, Bassoon & Piano

There are THREE  ‘Areas of Study’ Periods that must also be studied in depth:

• Western Classical Tradition 1750-1900 & The Development of the Symphony
• Into the 20th Century 1890-1900
• Jazz 1920-1960 (Trad Jazz, Big Band & Swing Band Jazz, Bebop Jazz & Cool Jazz)

Year 12 Course Content:

Students build on the musical knowledge and understanding of the musical periods, styles and genres explored at GCSE and the related conventions and devices through two Areas of Study and two specific Set Works that continue to develop students’ musical appraisal, score-reading, music theory, harmonic analysis and aural dictation abilities as well as providing students with opportunities for much greater creative freedom within the practical first composition and performance recital preparation coursework.

Autumn Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition: Standard Sonata Form, Classical Orchestra
• VJM 2: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition: Haydn Symphony 104 1st Movement Introduction & Exposition
• VJM 3: Harmony & Tonality: Keys, Chords, Chord Progressions & Cadences
• AMM 1: Area of Study D: Overview of the History of Jazz 1920-1960, the Origin of Jazz in Ragtime, with focus on Trad Jazz styles
• AMM 2: Rhythm & Metre
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Recital Performance Initial Preparation (both)

Autumn Term 2:

• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition: Set Work no.1 Haydn Symphony 104 1st Movement Development & Recapitulation
• VJM 2: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.2: Mendelssohn Italian Symphony 1st Movement
• VJM 3: Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition: Other Symphonic 1st Movement exemplar works between 1750 & 1900
• VJM 4: Melody: Melody & Motifs, Devices, Texture & Structure
• AMM 1: Area of Study D Jazz: Focus on Big Band & Swing Band Jazz
• AMM 2: Area of Study D Jazz: Focus on Bebop & Cool Jazz
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Recital Performance Preparation (both)

Spring Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.1:  Haydn Symphony 104 2nd Movement
• VJM 2: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.2: Mendelssohn Italian Symphony 2nd Movement
• VJM 3: Western Classical Tradition Context: Other Symphonic 2nd Movement Exemplar Works (Beethoven 5th Symphony, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Brahms Symphony no.1, Mahler 2nd Symphony)
• VJM 4: Q.12 Context Comparison Practice
• VJM 5: Q.11 Aural Dictation Practice (Pitch & Rhythm)
• AMM 1: Area of Study D Jazz: Study of Exemplar Jazz works & related Listening Exercises related to: Trad Jazz, Big Band & Swing
• AMM 2: Area of Study Jazz: Practice Jazz Context Mini Essays
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Recital Performance Preparation (both)

Spring Term 2:

• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.1: Haydn Symphony 104 3rd Movement
• VJM 2: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.2: Mendelssohn Italian Symphony 3rd Movement
• VJM 3: Western Classical Tradition Context: Other Symphonic 3rd Movement Exemplar Works (Beethoven 5th Symphony, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Brahms Symphony no.1, Mahler 2nd Symphony)
• VJM 4: Q.12 Context Comparison Practice
• VJM 5: Q.10 Analysis & Q.11 Aural Dictation Practice (Pitch & Rhythm)
• AMM 1: Area of Study D Jazz: Study of Exemplar Jazz works & related Listening Exercises related to: Bebop & Cool Jazz
• AMM 2: Area of Study Jazz: Practice Jazz Context Mini Essays
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Recital Performance Preparation (both)

Summer Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.1: Haydn Symphony 104 4th Movement
• VJM 2: Area of Study A: The Western Classical Tradition Set Work no.2: Mendelssohn Italian Symphony 4th Movement
• VJM 3: Western Classical Tradition Context: Other Symphonic 4th Movement Exemplar Works (Beethoven 5th Symphony, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Brahms Symphony no.1, Mahler 2nd Symphony)
• VJM 4: pre-PPE Q,10 Analysis, Q11 Dictation & Q12 Context Comparison Past Papers Practice Questions
• AMM 1: Area of Study D: pre-PPE Exam Jazz Styles Revision & Consolidation
• AMM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century Neo-Classical: Context & Exemplar Works
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Recital Performance Preparation (both)

Summer Term 2:

• VJM 1: pre-PPE Area of Study A: Q.14 Haydn 104 1st Movement Revision & Consolidation via Past Papers Practice Questions
• VJM 2: pre-PPE Consolidation of Q,10 Analysis, Q11 Dictation, Q12 Context Comparison Past Papers Practice Questions
• VJM 3: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century:  Q.8 Impressionism  Context Exemplar Works
• VJM 4: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Q.7 Debussy ‘Nuages’ from Trois Nocturnes
• VJM 5: Area of Study A: The Development of the Symphony: Q.14 Context Essay Writing
• VJM 6: Coursework Composition – Draft Evaluation Log & Scores
• AMM 1: pre-PPE Area of Study D: Q.7, Q8 & Q9 Jazz Revision & Consolidation via Past Papers Practice Questions
• AMM 2: Area of Study E: Neo-Classicism: Q.7 Poulenc Trio for Piano, Oboe & Bassoon
• Year 12 PPE Mock Appraising Music Exam Paper
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Recital Performance Preparation (both)

Year 13 Course Content:

Students continue to build on the musical knowledge and understanding of the Areas of Study and related Set works already explored in year 12 and start the third and final Area of Study and the remaining two related Set Works. Students further develop their composition skills through an exam-board set second coursework composition and further develop their higher level performing abilities through a formal recital to the visiting external examiner.

Autumn Term 1:

• VJM 1: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century:  Impressionism Context Consolidation & Practice
• VJM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,3 Debussy ‘Nuages’
• VJM 3: Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition: Haydn Symphony 104 1st & 2nd Movements Consolidation & Practice Analysis
• VJM 4: Area of Study A: The Development of the Symphony: Q.14 Context Consolidation & Practice Essays
• VJM 5: Q.11 Dictation & Analysis Skills Revision & Practice
• AMM 1: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century:  Neo-Classicism Context Consolidation & Practice
• AMM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,4 ‘Poulenc Trio for Piano, Oboe & Bassoon Revision & Consolidation
• AMM 3: Area of Study D: Jazz Styles Consolidation & Practice
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Performance Preparation (both)

Autumn Term 2:

• VJM 1: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century:  Impressionism Context Consolidation & Practice
• VJM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,3 Debussy ‘Nuages’
• VJM 3: Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition: Haydn Symphony 104 3rd & 4th Movements Consolidation & Practice Analysis
• VJM 4: Area of Study A: The Development of the Symphony: Q.14 Context Consolidation & Practice Essays
• VJM 5: Q.11 Dictation & Analysis Skills Practice
• AMM 1: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century:  Neo-Classicism Context Consolidation & Practice
• AMM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,4 Poulenc Trio for Piano, Oboe & Bassoon Revision & Consolidation
• AMM 3: Area of Study D: Jazz Styles Consolidation & Practice
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Performance Preparation (both)

Spring Term 1:

• Year 13 PPE 1 Mock Appraising Music Exam Paper
• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Development of the Symphony: Q.14 Context Consolidation & Practice Essays
• VJM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no.3 Q.7 Debussy ‘Nuages’ & Q8 Impressionism Context Practice Analysis
• VJM 3: Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition: Q.12 Haydn Symphony 104 Consolidation & Practice Analysis
• VJM 4: Q.11 Dictation & Analysis Skills Practice
• AMM 1: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,4 Q.7 Poulenc ‘Trio’ & Q8 Neo-Classicism Context Practice Analysis
• AMM 2: Area of Study D: Q.5 & 6 Jazz Styles Consolidation & Practice Analysis
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Performance Preparation (both)

Spring Term 2:

• Year 13 PPE 2 Mock Appraising Music Exam Paper
• VJM 1: Area of Study A: The Development of the Symphony: Q.14 Context Consolidation & Practice Essays
• VJM 2: Coursework Composition – Draft Set Brief Evaluation Log & Scores
• VJM 3: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no.3 Q.7 Debussy ‘Nuages’ & Q8 Impressionism Context Practice Analysis
• VJM 4: Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition: Q.12 Haydn Symphony 104 Consolidation & Practice Analysis
• VJM 5: Q.11 Dictation & Analysis Skills Practice
• AMM 1: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,4 Q.7 Poulenc ‘Trio’ & Q8 Neo-Classicism Context Practice Analysis
• AMM 2: Area of Study D: Q. 5 & 6 Jazz Styles Past Papers Practice Analysis
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Performance Preparation (both)

Summer Term 1:

• VJM 1: Coursework Composition: Final Evaluation Logs & Scores, Final Scores to PDF format
• VJM 2: Area of Study A: The Development of the Symphony: Q.14 Context Revision & Practice Essays
• VJM 3: Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition: Q.12 Haydn Symphony 104 Past Papers Practice Analysis
• VJM 4: Area of Study E: Q.7 Debussy ‘Nuages’ Past Papers Practice Analysis
• AMM 1: Coursework Compositions: Final Audio Automation & Final Mixdowns to mp3 Format
• AMM 2: Area of Study E: Into the 20th Century: Set Work no,4 Q.7 Poulenc ‘Trio’ Practice Analysis
• AMM 3: Area of Study D: Q. 5 & 6 Jazz Styles Past Papers Practice Analysis
• Free Brief Coursework Composition (both)
• Coursework Performance Preparation (both)

Homework

• At Key Stage 5 students will be set a minimum of one piece of music homework per teacher per week 2-week cycle by either Mr Mizen or Mr McDonald and frequently one piece of work per lesson taught
• Homework tasks will include: Formative Listening Exercises on Microsoft Quiz, Consolidation and Revision Listening or Research Tasks in preparation for, Summative Listening Exercises.
• Each task consists of Differentiated core tasks to enable everyone to access & complete the work but those who have time or who would like to can also choose to complete the optional additional Extension task.
• Students will have one week to complete each music homework task
• All homework tasks will be set via Teams.

Assessment

• At Key Stage 5 Music, students are awarded one Summative level at the end of each half-term
• Year 12 Music students will assessed on ‘Mark 12’ with two levelled assessments in each half-term for work completed (ie: four per term)
• Year 13 students will be assessed on ‘Mark 10’ with five levelled assessments in each of the Autumn & Spring Terms
• Grades will range from A* to E and are based on students’ current, cumulative & projected attainment within completed course-related practical coursework or practice preparation exercises to date related to the three musical disciplines of:  coursework Performing, coursework Composing & Areas of Study-related Listening & Appraising Exercises.
• The expected minimum average attainment in Music A level by the end of year 11 is a C grade
• Students are expected to achieve at least their benchmark target by the end of the two-year course.

Year 12 Assessment Overview

Year 13 Assessment Overview

Useful A level information & resources links

• https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music-as-a-level/#tab_keydocuments
• Eduqas Digital Resources
• Music Theory Resources
• https://www.brainscape.com/subjects/entrance-exams/a-level-exams/a-level-music
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_sonata_form
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Claude-Debussy
• Neoclassicism 
• https://www.britannica.com/art/Expressionism
• Link to study guide

A level Music Course Assessment DatesDownload

A Level Music Course OverviewDownload