A Level Music
Examination Board: Eduqas
Music is widely regarded as a challenging and exciting A level that combines well with other arts and humanities subjects and with maths, IT and physics. It inspires creativity and expression in a way that no other subject can. The course gives an opportunity for you to develop performance and composition skills as well as to further your knowledge of different music styles. There is plenty of scope to perform and compose music that appeals to you but an open mind to all types of music is essential. Music technology is fully integrated into the curriculum with opportunities to compose and perform using this format.
Studying GCSE music is an essential pre-requisite to studying on the A Level course, though some exceptions can be made. You need sound performing skills (Grade 4 minimum on entry to the course) as you will need to prepare 10-12 minutes of music of your choice at Grade 6 level by Spring of Year 13. You will be expected to read music from a score for part of the examination so if your reading skills are poor or restricted to reading tablature then be prepared to improve your skills.
Component 1 and 2: Performing and Composing (60%)
You can choose your own performing and composing path at A Level.
| Option A | Option B |
Performance: 10–12-minute performance programme of a minimum of three pieces (35%)
Composition: 4-6-minute combined duration of two compositions (25%) | Composition: 8-10-minute combined duration of three compositions (35%)
Performance 6-8-minute performance of a minimum of two pieces (25%) |
Performance:
- Performances must reflect the characteristics of at least two Areas of Study (Pop and Rock, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Western Classical Tradition, 20th Century Classical, 21st Century Contemporary Classical)
- The expected performance standard of A Level Performances is adjacent to Grade 6 instrumental/vocal proficiency though enhanced marks are awarded to students performing grade 7+ repertoire
- Performances are assessed by a visiting external examiner.
Composition:
- One composition is composed in line with one of four exam board set briefs that reflect the rules and conventions of Western Classical Tradition.
- The second composition is a free composition in response to a brief you write yourself (e.g. I’ve composed a Musical Theatre duet between two characters confessing their love to each other)
- Compositions are submitted to the exam board for external marking.
Component 3: The Exam (40%)
We’ll study three Areas of Study:
- AOS(a): Western Classical Tradition: The Development of the Symphony between 1750 and 1900 with detailed analysis of one set work and more holistic study of another
- AOS(c): Musical Theatre: A detailed look at the development of Musical Theatre with a focus on key works by six Musical Theatre composers (including Stephen Schwartz, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Leonard Bernstein)
- AOS(e): Into the Twentieth Century: Analysis of two set works
There’s one written exam at the end of Year 13 – 2hr 15m.
Component 1 and 2: Performing and Composing (60%)
Component 3: The Exam (40%)
There’s one written exam at the end of Year 13 – 2hr 15m.
What you'll be studying in explained in more detail in the section above.
Careers in the music business include promotion, administration, performance, music therapy, sound engineering and teaching.
Former students have continued their performance studies at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Guildhall School of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Scottish Conservatoire, Hull University, Huddersfield University, Leeds Conservatoire, Durham University, Salford University and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Students have a choice of the musicological or highly practical type university courses with different institutions allowing students to develop their interests in a wide variety of fields, e.g. contemporary music, composition, electronic music, performance, jazz, popular music or baroque studies.
Whilst many students do go on to study music further, other students opt for music as it is an enjoyable subject to study and because it complements a wide and varied range of subjects. The A level shows breadth of interest when applying for a non-music degree. What all these students had in common though was a love of music.