Board: EDEXCEL
Key Features:• Emphasis on music technology as an area of advanced study in its own right• Musical performance defined as an interpretative and creative skill using music technology• Music technology studied within the context of its influence on the way music is produced and listened to• Encourages the use of music technology as a tool for composing, arranging and score writing• Provides a thorough grounding in sequencing and recording skills• Introduces the principles of music technology and aural skills through practical and theoretical means• 60% coursework
Key Points:• The specification has a two-unit structure• Unit 1 comprises the AS qualification• The level of AS is that expected after one year of post-GCSE study• Units 1 and 2 make up the whole Advanced GCE qualification• Unit 2 is known as the A2 unit• The AS unit may be taken after one year of study or as a 100% terminal examination at the end of the full Advanced GCE course• Presently we only offer the AS qualification
Outline of the course:
ASPractical work (35%)
Sequencing or Recording (40%) Students are required to cover both sequencing and recording across the AS qualification but in this section they specialise in either sequencing or recording. The work for this section can be carried out at any time during the course.
The context for this section will be the study of The developments of music technology and Music from the Western classical tradition. Students will complete a structured commentary related to music from the Western Classical Tradition that they have sequenced or recorded. The structured commentary will be completed under timed (1½ hours) and supervised conditions.SequencingStudents will learn the skills required to produce accomplished musical performances in a range of musical styles using sequencing software. They will interpret and realise two contrasting pieces of music. The first will be a piece of music from the Western classical tradition, and will faithfully follow a selected score. Students will be expected to complete a structured commentary to demonstrate their understanding of the music from the Western classical tradition that they have sequenced. The second sequence can be from any musical idiom and may consist of an outline musical score requiring the development of drum, keyboard and guitar parts from chord symbols.RecordingStudents will learn the skills required to make high-quality recordings of a range of musical performances. Students will make two contrasting recordings using complimentary recording techniques. The first will be a direct to two track stereo recording of a piece of music from the Western classical tradition using ambient recording techniques. Students will be expected to complete a structured commentary to demonstrate their understanding of the music from the Western classical tradition that they have recorded. The second recording will be a four track multi-track recording using close mic techniques. This will involve recording 4 live tracks using microphones or DI, and will require the use of overdub and mixdown. The second recording can be of any music but is most likely to be from the pop and jazz idiom.
Arranging and improvising using technology (30%)
In this part of the practical work students will be required to extend their study of the developments of music technology and focus on recording if they have opted for sequencing in section (1) or focus on sequencing if they have opted for recording in section (1). Students will also be required to study a range of music within a third Area of Study, which is popular music and jazz. The understanding of the third Area of Study will form part of the written assessment in Part b and in this practical section students will be required to make an arrangement of two short pieces of music, one of which must be related to the Area of Study.The first arrangement will be developed from a short melody or folk tune using a computer sequencing and notation package. This arrangement can be from Area of Study 2 (Music from the Western classical tradition). It is expected that students will create an arrangement for between four and six instruments lasting for 32-64 bars. Students must produce a finished full score and parts containing performance details and markings. The quality of the score and parts will form part of the assessment. Students must submit a CD or mini-disc of their arrangement together with a copy of the stimulus material and the completed full score and parts.
The second task can be thought of as an improvised arrangement that is developed aurally using technology to record and structure the musical ideas. Music from Area of Study 3 (popular music and jazz) must be used for this second arrangement task.
This second arrangement task can be undertaken in a number of ways:
• Developed using a MIDI sequencer to store and manipulate the ideas. The student undertakes the role of performer and arranger, playing ideas into the computer in real time, and subsequently editing the musical material into a finished product• Developed using musicians in a recording studio. In this situation the student works with a group of musicians, developing an arrangement aurally. The studio is used to record the final product. The student undertakes the role of arranger, performer and ensemble director• Developed using a porta-studio, where students develop their ideas by recording instrumental tracks one at a time. In this situation the student undertakes the role of performer and arranger.In all of these cases, the student must submit a recording of their finished arrangement on mini-disc or CD, together with a copy of the stimulus material and a commentary sheet detailing the resources used and musical intention.The arrangements can be carried out at any time during the course.
Written Work (15%)Listening and analysing I - AS 30%In this part of the AS unit students will be required to demonstrate their ability to listen to unfamiliar music related to Area of Study 1 (The development of music technology) and Area of Study 3 (popular music and jazz), and to analyse musical, technical and stylistic features. Students will be issued with an individual copy of the assessment exercise on CD, and will be allowed to listen to the material as many times as they require to answer the questions.Students will sit a two-hour paper in which they will be required to answer questions related to Areas of Study 1 and 3. The questions will require students to recognise musical features and elements and to consider the impact of music technology on the music they are listening to. One question will require them to answer in continuous prose and to put the music in a broader cultural and social context.