You are here: > Academic > Music

Music and Music Technology

Music is an academic curriculum subject for all years at The Leys. All pupils from Year 7 to Year 9 have class music lessons; further study at GCSE and A Level is optional. In addition Music Technology is also offered at AS Level as a separate academic discipline. Class sizes are typically small for all year groups, enabling personal attention to the needs of all pupils. The Graduate Musician is available for extra one-to-one support as necessary for pupils in any year group.

Years 7 - 9

Largely based on the National Curriculum, lower school lessons focus on creating and developing music and appreciation of a wide range of musical styles from ‘Classical’ to Pop and World Music. Performance, composition, improvisation, ICT and Music Theory are all important aspects of the course.

GCSE

Pupils opting to take GCSE Music follow the Edexcel syllabus, which develops performing, composing and anthology-based listening and analysis skills. The specification has four main areas of study:

Western Classical Music 1600-1899
Music in the 20th Century
Popular music in context
World music

Paper One: Performing (30%) Pupils produce both a solo and an ensemble performance, recorded at any time during the course, on any instrument and in any style. The performance should ideally be at Grade 4-5 standard.
Paper Two: Composing (30%) Pupils are required to produce two compositions lasting between 2-4 minutes in total.
Paper Three: Listening and Appraising (40%) Pupils respond to questions based around the set works from the anthology. In Section A the questions are based on recorded extracts while Section B requires more in-depth knowledge on a chosen set piece.

AS and A Level

Pupils opting to study AS /A Level Music also follow the Edexcel syllabus which is also divided into three sections based on performance, composition and listening and appraising.

Unit One: Performing (30%) Pupils are required to perform a 5-6 minute recital on any instrument and in any style. It can be recorded at any stage of the course and can be attempted as many times as necessary.
Unit Two: Composition (30%) Pupils are required to compose a piece in response to a given brief, set by the exam board. The piece will last approximately 3 minutes and will be accompanied by a CD-style sleeve note in which the pupil explains influences upon their composition.
Unite Three: Listening and Appraising (40%) Pupils listen to a wide variety of styles of music based on the two areas of study – instrumental music and vocal music and answer questions based on extracts. The final section Understanding chords and lines, involves analysing the harmonic structure of a piece and also the completion of a short harmony exercise.

Units 4-6 are a continuation of the AS syllabus.

Unit Four: An extended Performance recital of 15 minutes at a minimum standard of Grade 6
Unit Five: One composition based on a given brief set by the exam board and one technical exercise which is an extension of the Understanding chords and lines involving the completion of a chorale harmonisation.
Unit Six: New pieces from the Anthology are analysed in greater depth. They are again split into two categories, instrumental music and applied music but there is greater focus on placing music in context.

Music Technology

Music Technology is offered as an AS Subject only. Pre-requisites for the course include: practical experience on at least one instrument; an awareness of musical terminology; an interest in popular music; GCSE Music and/or Grade Five Theory.

The course is split into two units:

Unit 1 consists of three parts, including a sequenced realised performance of a pop song set by the exam board, a multi-track recording of a piece of your own choice, and a creative sequenced arrangement from a choice of two in given styles by the exam board. All this work is undertaken using Apple iMacs with software such as Logic and Reason. The recording also gives the opportunity to perform as an ensemble and utilise recording techniques requiring the high quality microphones and professional standard recording software in our dedicated recording studio.
Unit 2 is a listening exam that requires knowledge of a wide variety of popular music styles, and the recording and production techniques that are used in them. There are also two special focus areas which require in-depth study that change year on year.