Route map through learning, teaching and
assessment
Course: Music Technology
Level: Higher
This route map is intended to assist staff in planning and delivering the overall vision for Curriculum for Excellence.
It has been developed to signpost the relevant support materials available to assist staff in the planning of learning,
teaching and assessment of Higher Music Technology.
The vision for the new qualifications is to create assessment opportunities that follow and support learning and
teaching. This follows the principles laid out in Building the Curriculum 5 and makes assessment a natural part of
learning and teaching.
Education Scotland has published support materials to help staff develop programmes of learning drawn from three
sources: course materials commissioned by Education Scotland, other support materials produced by staff
seconded to Education Scotland and course materials provided by staff through their education authorities. Further
materials will be added as they become available.
These support materials are not intended to constrain staff, hence they are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive.
They provide suggestions on approaches to learning and teaching that will promote development of the necessary
knowledge, understanding and skills for Higher Music Technology. Staff are encouraged to draw on these
materials, and existing materials, to develop their own programmes of learning which are appropriate to the needs
of learners within their own context.
The link to Education Scotland’s support materials can be found below together with a number of other subjectspecific links staff may find helpful as they develop programmes of learning for Higher Music Technology. These
links are followed by a sequential list of the key guidelines, advice and support for the Higher Music Technology
qualification. This information is intended to support staff in deciding the most appropriate ways to generate
evidence and assess learners.
Useful links for learning and teaching Higher Music Technology
Education Scotland NQ course materials on GLOW (login and password required):
A wide range of learning and teaching resources to help staff develop programmes of learning.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nqcoursematerials/subjects/musictechnology/index.asp (copy and paste this
link into your browser)
Education Scotland NNQs support
A link to support materials for existing National Qualifications.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learningteachingandassessment/curriculumareas/expressivearts/nqs/index.as
p
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Education Scotland Learn Listening Online
An interactive resource to help learners improve their knowledge and listening skills
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learnlisteningonline/
SQA course and unit support notes providing advice and guidance on learning and teaching
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_CourseUnitSupportNotes_Higher_ExpressiveArts_MusicTechnology.pdf
Key Curriculum for Excellence support
A quick guide to finding vital information about Curriculum for Excellence under the following headings:
 the latest guidance, updates and plans for embedding Curriculum for Excellence
 information on assessment
 information on the new qualifications.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/keycfesupport/index.asp
National Assessment Resource (login and password required)
Materials that inform planning for learning, teaching, moderation and assessment.
https://www.narscotland.org.uk/
Scottish Association for Music Education
Resources, links and latest news for those involved in music education
http://www.same.org.uk/
Higher Music Technology course content
Higher Music Technology consists of three units and a coursework assessment.
Music Technology Skills
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_Unit_H_MusicTechnology_MusicTechnologySkills.pdf
There is a full package of unit assessment support available on the SQA Secure website for this mandatory unit.
The package includes unit assessments for both combined approaches, and also unit-by-unit approaches.
Music Technology in Context
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_Unit_H_MusicTechnology_MusicTechnologyinContext.pdf
There is a full package of unit assessment support available on the SQA Secure website for this mandatory unit.
The package includes unit assessments for both combined approaches, and also unit-by-unit approaches.
Understanding 20th and 21st Century Music
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_Unit_H_MusicTechnology_Understanding20thand21stCenturyMusic.pdf
There is a full package of unit assessment support available on the SQA Secure website for this mandatory unit.
The package includes unit assessments for both combined approaches, and also unit-by-unit approaches.
Course assessment
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfEAssessmentOverviewHigherMusicTech.pdf
Pages 2 and 3 of this document outline the requirements for the music technology assignment and specimen
question paper.
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
This is a new course and no direct comparisons are available with previous courses at higher level. The course
assessment is marked centrally and learners are expected to involve a combination of two or more different
contexts in the course assessment.
Unit assessment
Units are mandatory when taken as part of the full Higher Music Technology course but they can be standalone
also. Unit support notes follow on from the course support notes.
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_CourseUnitSupportNotes_Higher_ExpressiveArts_MusicTechnology.pdf
Requirements for the coursework assessment (assignment)
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_CourseAssessSpec_Higher_ExpressiveArtsMusicTechnology.pdf
The course assessment specification provides a detailed overview of the requirements for each component of the
course assessment.
Assignment
The assignment is worth a total of 70 marks. This counts towards 70% of the overall course assessment. Marks will
be awarded for planning, implementing and evaluating the production.
The purpose of the assignment is to assess practical application of knowledge and skills from the units to plan,
implement and evaluate a creative production using music technology.
The assignment will be a meaningful and appropriately challenging task requiring breadth, challenge and
application. The learner will draw on and apply technological and music skills and knowledge, at an appropriate
level, developed through the units of the course. Learners have the opportunity through the assignment to explore
a range of contexts for both demonstrating and developing their skills and knowledge.
Through planning, implementing and evaluating, staff should ensure the production:






involves multiple parts, and should involve the use of appropriate microphone techniques
involves complex sound design involving a wide range of processes and effects
uses (and justifies) appropriate techniques to capture, manipulate and sequence audio
applies accurate synchronization and sequencing
demonstrates (and justifies) creative and appropriate use of music from more than one genre or style
involves a combination of two or more different contexts (e.g. recording a small group and incorporating that into
a radio broadcast or into the sound design for a film or animation)
 be at least 4 minutes in length
For a more detailed overview of how the assignment will be assessed, staff should refer to pages 3–5 of
‘Coursework Assessment Info for Higher Music Technology,’ which can be found on the SQA Secure website.
Question paper
The purpose of the question paper is to assess breadth of knowledge from across the units, depth of
understanding, and application of this knowledge and understanding to answer appropriately challenging
questions. This question paper will allow learners to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of 20th- and
21st-century music styles and genres, music concepts and aspects of music technology.
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
The question paper will have 30 marks out of a total of 100 marks. This is 30% of the overall marks for the course
assessment.
It will consist of questions in response to music and audio excerpts in a range of 20th- and 21st-century styles and
genres. A range of question types will be used, assessing understanding of relevant music and technological
concepts.
Although excerpts of world music or 20th/21st-century classical music may be used as a context for questions in
the question paper, learners will not be expected to have an in-depth knowledge of these genres.
An example of the specimen question paper, demonstrating the scope of question types used and how learners are
expected to apply the concepts and knowledge of music technology, can be accessed in the specimen question
paper and marking instructions.
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/MusicTechnologySQPH.pdf
Points of change and areas of stability across National 5 and new CfE Higher are discussed in the following
document:
http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/H_Music_Technology_Course_comparison.pdf.
Verification
The verification process is intended to be supportive to practitioners.
Internal verification is the process of ensuring standards are applied uniformly and consistently within a school in
line with national standards. External verification is the process of ensuring that national standards are maintained
consistently across all schools and is carried out by SQA.
Information on quality assurance is available at: http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/58448.html.
The following links will also support practitioners when preparing evidence for verification purposes including prior
verification, as well as internal and external verification:
http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/Prior%20Verification%20Centre%20Guidance%20FINAL.pdf
http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/InternalVerificationGuideforSQAcentres.pdf
http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/Evidence_required_for_verificationevents.pdf
http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/SQA_Evidence_retention_requirements_A3_table.pdf.
Key messages from the verification process will be posted on the SQA website.
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Results services
http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/FA6669_SQA_Results_Services_A5_8pp_brochure_web.pdf
http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/65427.html
SQA offer two services to replace the appeals process:
 Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service (details to be provided to SQA within ten days of the learner
sitting the external assessment)
 Post-results Service – this consists of a clerical check and/or a marking review if the centre has concerns about
the results of an individual or group.
T +44 (0)141 282 5000 E enquiries@educationscotland.gov.uk W www.educationscotland.gov.uk
Education Scotland, Denholm House, Almondvale Business Park, Almondvale Way, Livingston EH54 6GA
© Crown copyright, 2012
You may re-use this information (excluding images and logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence providing that it is reproduced
accurately and not in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the document title specified.
To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence or e-mail: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.