AQA Music GCE
MU2Unit •
Why Music………?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng
Stephanie Pitts
Professor of Music Education -Sheffield University
‘Music and Mind and Everyday Life’
Adults who engage in music participation have
• Increased confidence
• Forum for social interaction
• Enhanced work life balance and escape from stress
• Spiritual Fulfilment
AQA Music GCE
At AS, this course intends to enable candidates to
• develop an understanding of the organisation of
sounds,
• create musical ideas with technical control and
expressive understanding,
• Perform with confidence and expression (solo,
ensemble and/or technology-based).
AQA Music GCE
Influences on Music
MU1
Written Paper,
1 hour 45 minutes
Externally assessed
80 marks
30% of total AS marks
15% of total A Level marks
Structured listening questions using a CD of musical excerpts
• Two essay questions, one on each Area of Study
The Western Classical Tradition (compulsory)
(Set work (2015) Haydn Symphony 104)
and a choice of one from:
• Choral Music in the Baroque Period
• Music Theatre: a study of the musical from 1940-1980
• British Popular Music from 1960-the present day
AQA Music GCE
MU2Unit 2:
Composing/Creating Musical Ideas
60 marks
Coursework, composing Externally assessed
30% of total AS marks
15% of total A Level marks
• Respond to one brief from a choice of three
• 20 hours maximum
Brief A Compositional techniques
• Harmonisation of a 16 bar diatonic melody/ Controlling texture
Brief B Free composition or pastiche in response to a given genre
• Vocal music, small ensemble, electronic music or keyboard music
3-6 minutes
Brief C Arranging
• Arrange a given folk song melody and text, vocally and/or
instrumentally
AQA Music GCE
MU3
Unit 3: Performing Interpreting Musical Ideas
80 marks
Performing, 10-16 minutes
Internally assessed
40% of total AS marks/20% of total A Level marks
Two performances, including music technology opportunities
•5-8 minutes each. Grade lV - V
Subject Content
• Solo performance on an instrument
• Solo performance on voice
• Solo performance on a second instrument
• Ensemble performance
• Technology-based performance - sequencing
• Technology-based performance – multi-track/close microphone
recording
AQA Music GCE
Music in Context Written Paper,
20% of total A Level marks
MU4
2 hour 15 minutes
100 marks
• Structured listening questions using a CD of musical excerpts
• Two essay questions, one on each Area of Study
The Western Classical Tradition (compulsory)
Set work Vaughan Williams Symphony Symphony no 5 in D major
And a choice of one from:
• English Choral Music in the 20th Century
• Chamber Music from Mendelssohn to Debussy
• Four Decades of Jazz and Blues 1910 - 1950
AQA Music GCE
MU5Unit 2:
Composing/Creating Musical Ideas
Coursework, composing
Externally assessed
15% of total A Level marks
60 marks
Respond to one brief from a choice of three
• 20 hours maximum
• Briefs released by AQA on 1st November
Brief A Compositional techniques
• Harmonisation of a Bach chorale melody and a classical
string quartet
Brief B Free composition or pastiche
• Single, substantial piece in any style or genre
• Any combination of voices and/or instruments
• 5-8 minutes
Brief C Arranging
• Arrange a piece of popular ‘classical’ music in a recognised
Pop, rock or jazz style (5 – 8 mins)
AQA Music GCE
Performing, 15 minutes
15% of total A Level marks
MU6
Externally assessed
60 marks
Two (or more) contrasting performances
• Programme of 10-15 minutes
Grade V – Vll
Two or more performances
chosen from:
• Solo acoustic performances
• Technology-based performances
• One solo performance and one technology-based performance
(each at least 5 minutes)
High Storrs Music Department
Why We Offer More!
We are a school with;
•Excellent exams results which are improving year upon year
•Provision of subsidised instrumental lessons to students taking Music GCE
•State of the Art music facilities
•A city wide reputation for Performing Arts with an annual production at the Crucible.
•A large range of extra curricular provision and opportunities to suit all musical tastes
•Regular concert tours (October 2013 Paris and Disney World/July 2016 Germany)
We are;
•The only state secondary school south and west of the city that offers Music and Music Tech A level
•A Champion school for the Sheffield Music Hub. An acknowledgment of excellence in Music Teaching.
•A Sheffield Music Service centre for ensembles.
Students have come to High Storrs to do A level Music/Music tech from;
Fir vale
Meadowhead
Hope valley
Silverdale
Bradfield
Sheffield High School
King Ecgbert
Students have moved on to do;
Maths
BA -Film Composition
BMus
BMus
Maths
Warwick
Leeds College of Music
Hull University
York St John
Cambridge
Rebecca Windsor
Tom Ryan
Victoria Berry
Stephen Jackson
David Hill
Stephen Jackson Music and Music Technology Student (Previously Meadowhead)
‘ I have really enjoyed being part of a large Music Department at High Storrs And being involved in
a number of different Music groups. The sixth form and Music Department were open and friendly
and have given me opportunities to develop my full potential as a musician. Having access to the
Music Studio and being able to book it out of school time has been a particular stimulus to my
studies.’
High Storrs Music Department
Why We Offer More!
AQA Statistics 2014
AS
Grades A-C
Criteria
Our centre
Similar centres
All AQA centres
2014
70%
59%
68%
AS
Mus 1 ( A-C)
Our centre
2014
70%
AS
Mus 2 (A-C)
Our centre
2014
55%
Similar centres
45%
Similar centres
52%
All AQA centres
56%
All AQA centres
59%
AS
Mus 3 (A-C)
Our centre
2014
80%
Similar centres
76%
All AQA centres
79%