Music (Year 12)
Exam Board
Edexcel
What will you study?
• Performing
• Free composition
• Bach chorale harmony
• Analysis of set works – Instrumental Music
• Aural skills
• Wider listening
• Performing
• Free composition
• Bach chorale harmony
• Analysis of set works – Film Music
• Aural skills
• Wider listening
• Performing
• Free composition
• Bach chorale harmony
• Analysis of set works – Vocal Music
• Aural skills
• Wider listening
Useful tips and resources
• Wider listening / reading around the musical styles being studied is essential, not only to gain a better understanding of the pieces being explored but also to help you to make links between the set works and ‘other music’ which is a requirement of the examination essays
• Grout’s History of Western Music and The Cambridge Music Guide both offer a good introduction and overview to the development of Western classical music
• Take every opportunity to go to concerts (of all sorts of music)
• You have to compose 1 free composition during the 2-year course. Therefore, there is time (and it is strongly recommended) to listen and look closely at examples of music written in a similar style / for a similar group of instruments. You are expected to refine and develop your ideas as much as possible to make the finished piece as successful as possible
• You should regularly listen to, and play through, examples of Bach’s chorale harmonisations so that you know what you are aiming for when completing harmony exercises
• Coursework (performing & composing) forms 60% of your total examination mark. In order to give yourself the best chance to do well, make sure you stay on top of your work, practising your performance pieces regularly and ensuring that composition research and development time is built into each week
• Develop your aural skills throughout the course – there are various ways to do this including online sites and Auralia software. However, playing newly-introduced chords (e.g. Neapolitan 6th chords, augmented 6th chords etc) on the piano, asking your instrumental teachers to test you each lesson with recognising intervals, sight-singing practice etc will all help
• There are many resources on the SHS Music Resources Team on MS Teams
• There are numerous places online to explore different styles of music including Spotify, YouTube, BBC Sounds, Apple Music etc. You will find documentaries, podcasts, analyses of all sorts of music as well as the music itself on these, and other, sites
• Wider listening / reading around the topics studied in lessons will enhance understanding – books, magazines, listening to the radio / podcasts, attending concerts, exploring the web will all be beneficial
• Develop aural skills by building Auralia practice into each week (10 mins, 3 times a week, for instance) would be highly beneficial
What super curricular activities can KS3 students engage with at school?
• Ensure that you are fully involved in the co-curricular musical life of the school – there are a wide range of musical activities including choirs, orchestra, rock bands, various ensembles, music theatre etc – see the school ‘Co-curricular booklet’ for further details
• Aim to take part in some of the concerts, formal and informal, that take place throughout the school year (there is at least one concert every half term) and the school Music Competition to help develop performance skills
• There are all sorts of musical ensembles that you can join outside school including bands, orchestras, church choirs etc
• If you play an instrument / have singing lessons, you may want to consider taking part in the activities organised by the local borough that you live in; e.g. the Merton Music Foundation or Sutton Music Trust
• Listen and read around your set works, keeping a log of the pieces you have listened to, recording any features that can be linked to the pieces you are studying – YouTube is a great place to start
• The BBC Discovering Music page includes analyses of many pieces of classical music. Listening to ‘Composer of the Week’ would also help you to gain a better understanding of some of the composers being studied
• Consider going to live concerts – there are many options in London such as the South Bank Centre, which features concerts of many different styles of music including free events and events that you can take part in
• The BBC Proms takes place every summer in The Albert Hall – all the concerts are on BBC Radio 3 and some are televised (or you could go and see the music live)
