Kenilworth School and Sixth Form

Music preparation work

Transition to A Level Music

Course Overview

 

Coursework – Either Option A or Option B – no mixing!

Coursework Component 1: Performing

Option A (35% of final grade)

a) Externally assessed performance of 10-12 minutes in duration.

b) Minimum of 3 pieces.

c) Must cover 2 Areas of Study from Western Classical/Rock & Pop/Jazz/Musical Theatre 20th Century and 21st Century.

 

Option B (25% of final grade)

a) Externally assessed performance of 6-8 minutes in duration.

b) Minimum of 2 pieces.

c) Must cover 1 Area of Study from Western Classical/Rock & Pop/Jazz/Musical Theatre 20th Century and 21st Century.

 

 

Coursework Component 2: Composing

Option A (25% of final grade)

a) Externally assessed portfolio of 4-6 minutes.

b) Minimum of 2 pieces.

c) One composition in the Western Classical Tradition to a brief set by Eduqas.

d) One free composition.

 

Option B (35% of final grade)

a) Externally assessed portfolio of 8-10 minutes.

b) Minimum of 3 pieces.

c) One composition in the Western Classical Tradition to a brief set by Eduqas.

d) One composition based on the Rock & Pop, Jazz, Musical Theatre, 20th Century or 21st Century Areas of Study.

e) One free composition.

 

Component 3

Area of Study A: Western Classical Tradition (40% of the exam)

a) Main set work Haydn 104th Symphony and associated set work Mendelssohn 4th symphony

b) Charting the development of the symphony from early Classical to the late Romantic.

 

Area of Study C: Musical Theatre (30% of the exam)

  1. No set works but set composers that will be studied include Richard Rogers, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Stephen Schwartz

Area of Study E: Into the Twentieth Century (30% of the exam)

a) 2 set works by Debussy and Poulenc.

b) Wider consideration of the musical developments in the 20th century

 

In the exam you will:

  • Answer a range of questions on the set works, for which we will have prepared in advance – you will have blank scores available to you in the exam room.
  • Answer listening questions on works that have not been prepared in advance (we will develop general listening skills in order to complete these questions).
  • Comment on the general context of unprepared extracts and relate or compare them to pieces we will have studied during the course.
  • Write an essay for Area of Study A which demonstrates knowledge of the symphony in relation both to the two set works studied and their wider social, cultural and historical context.

Summer To Do List

Basic Music Theory ( www.musictheory.net )
  •  Rhythm and Metre
  •  Scales and key signatures

Intervals Listening and Describing

Music History Tasks
  • Listen to the 3 tracks using the hyperlinks below

Haydn Lamentation Symphony

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique 4th Movement

Smetana Ma Vlast
  • Answer the 3 questions below for each extract:

*Which is your most favourite piece – why?

* Which is your least favourite piece – why?

* Choose a musical element to focus on when listening to all 3 pieces make comments

 

Performance
  • Consider your musical strengths
  • Research repertoire appropriate to your standard
  • Make sure you have organised instrumental lessons
  • Read the Course Overview and make sure that you fulfil the criteria for A or B

Musical Theatre
  • Research musicals composed by named composers above
  • What are the key musical stylistic fingerprints of the composers?
  • Choose a musical to study in depth and prepare an analysis of key musical points.

 

 

 

 

YouTube Viewing

Basic music theory building blocks – Click here to view

Introduction to the symphony - The Rise of the Symphony

Symphonic Development - BBC Symphony Series

The Music of Debussy - Debussy

 

 

If you have any questions, please email me: d.pugh@kssf.kmat.uk

 Mr Dave Pugh – Head of Music, Kenilworth School and Sixth Form