The new Edexcel Advanced Level A Level Music is designed to be stimulating and enriching for students. At both AS and A2 Level, students experience all three main musical disciplines of performing, composing and listening and understanding. Students develop performance skills (solo and/or ensemble), compose original music and learn about harmony. They will build up their aural and analytical skills through studying a selection of works from the New Anthology of Music and wider listening.

The full course (AS plus A2) is excellent preparation for higher education courses in Music, but is equally valuable for non-specialists as a second or third area of study.

AS Units

Unit 1

Performance

5-6 Minutes as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble- any instrument or voice.

Unit 2

Composition

Create a 3 minute original composition in response to a chosen brief set by the exam board.

Produce a recording and write CD sleeve notes to accompany the piece.

Unit 3

Developing Musical understanding

Listening to familiar music and understanding how it works.

Section A- Listening to extracts and answering questions on features of the music.

Section B- Investigating musical styles.

Section C- Understanding chords and lines.

Identifying harmonic and tonal features then completing a short section of four part choral harmony.

A2 Units

Unit 4

Extended Performance

12-15 minute balanced programme as a soloist and/or as part of an ensemble- any instrument or voice.

Unit 5

Composition and Technical Study

Section 1- Composition

Create a 3 minute original composition in response to a chosen brief set by the exam board.

Section 2- Technical Study

Builds on the harmony work studied for Unit 3, Section C

Students have three options.

They can complete

1 Composition + 1 Technical Study or

2 Compositions or

2 Technical Studies

Unit 6

Further Musical understanding

Listening to familiar and unfamiliar music.

Section A- Aural analysis

Section B- Music in context

Section C- Continuity and change in instrumental music.

Assessment details

Unit 1

30% AS

(15% A Level)

Internally assessed coursework

Unit 2

30% AS

(15% A Level)

Externally assessed coursework

Unit 3

40% AS

(20% A Level)

2 hour externally assessed exam

Assessment details

Unit 4

30% A2

(15% A Level)

Internally assessed coursework

Unit 5

30% A2

(15% A Level)

Externally assessed coursework

Unit 6

40% A2

(20% A Level)

Externally assessed exam

Exam board

Edexcel