Department of Music

Course outline

 

Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level Music Courses - a summary

This is the current course outline offered by OCR (Cambridge) Examining Body.

Advanced Subsidiary

AS level areas of study:

• Tonality (The Language of Western Tonal Harmony)

• The Expressive use of Instrumental Technique

AS: Performing Music 1 (120 marks)

Section A : Recital Solo - max. 8 mins (60 marks )
Section B: Viva Voce (Discussion) - approx.5 mins (20 marks )
Section C: Extended performing
ONE of performing on a second instrument / ensemble / performing own composition / improvisation (40 marks)

AS: Composing Music 1 (90 marks)

Section A : The Language of Western Tonal Harmony ; A minimum of 7 exercises including 1 completed under timed conditions. (45 marks)
Section B : A composition or arrangement for 4-10 instruments, maximum length 3 minutes.( 45 marks)

AS: Introduction to Historical Study in Music (90 marks)

Timed Examination Paper (1hr 45mins + 15)

Section A: Aural extract: one of

• solo instrumental chamber or orchestral repertoire from the period 1700 to 1830
• popular instrumental music from 1900 to the present day (30 marks)

Section B : Prescribed works: two extracts 18th/early 19th Century Orchestral / Jazz 1920 to 1960 (40 marks)
Section C : Contextual Study (20 marks )

Prescribed works to 2012:
18th/early 19th Century Orchestral
J.S.Bach: Orchestral Suite No 3 in D (Overture, Air, Gigue)
Mozart: Concerto in A for clarinet, Movt.3
Schubert: Symphony no.8 in b (“unfinished” ) Movt.1
Jazz 1920 to 1960
Jelly Roll Morton: Black Bottom Stomp
Count Basie: Jumpin’ at the Woodside
Miles Davis: So What

Advanced Level

 

A level areas of study: Tonality and Interpretation

 

A2: Performing Music 2 (120 marks)

Section A : Recital: solo, ensemble or accompanying - max 15mins. (100 marks)
Section B : Viva voce: Interpretative understanding - approx 5 mins (20 marks)

 

A2: Composing Music 2 (90 marks)

Section A : Stylistic Techniques: a maximum of 8 exercises including 1 completed under timed conditions, (45 marks)
based on one of:
2-pt counterpoint, late 16th century / 2-pt Baroque counterpoint / Bach chorales* / Classical string quartets / early Romantic keyboard accompaniments / popular song* / serialism / minimalism

Section B : Composition: one of (45 marks)

• vocal setting of a text (max 120 words / 4 stanzas)*
• instrumental interpretation of a programme (max. 4 mins.)*
• music for film / TV (max. 4 mins.)

Section B is ‘own choice’ source material under the guidance and supervision of teachers.

A2: Historical and Analytical Studies in Music (90 marks)

Section A : Aural Extract 1900 – 1945 – vocal / accompanied / unseen (40 marks)
Section B : Historical Topics – Prescribed works (specific extracts) and related repertoire and contextual study (50 marks)
Two questions from three on one of six topics: (currently topic 2)

1. Song:
   Dowland - First Book of Lute Ayres Schumann: Dichterleibe
   Peter Maxwell Davies 8 Songs for a Mad King
2. Programme Music:*
   Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / Spring and Winter Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
   Macmillan: The Confession of Isobel Gowdie
3. Music for the Screen
   Korngold: The Adventures of Robin Hood
   Hermann: Vertigo
   Glass: The Hours
4. Music and Belief
   Byrd: Mass for 4 voices
   Bach: St Matthew Passion
   Stockhausen:Stimmung
5. Music for the Stage
   Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
   Wagner: Die Walkure
   Bernstein: West Side Story
6. Post-1945 Popular Music
   Lennon and McCartney: Sergeant Pepper
   Queen: A Night at the Opera
   Nora Jones: Not too late
   
   *Options currently taught for A2

 

About the department

The Music Department maintains a high performance profile within college and prides itself in fulfilling a two-fold role - quality AS and A2-Level Music teaching, resulting in a high pass rate when compared with the national average, combined with an intensive musical programme of high quality and consistently demanding public performances. The number of students wishing to follow Advanced Level Music courses has significantly increased over recent years and the department is one of the largest centres for the OCR exam board.

The Department aims to provide: -

• A happy, inviting atmosphere in which all students feel at ease and able to produce their best work.
• Clear guidance and instruction about the whole spectrum of musical study including study skills, organisation, higher education and careers information.
• Continuous monitoring of all aspects of the course including performance, composition, study of historical topics and technological developments.
• Homework set regularly, collected for marking and returned promptly with constructive feedback. 
• An ambitious and varied extra-curricular opportunity leading to public performance of a consistently high standard. 

The current accommodation comprises of:

• A rehearsal space on the ground floor for large-scale enrichment activities.
• A spacious classroom/Mac suite on the first floor (equipped with 16 Mac workstations, digital projector, interactive whiteboard, electric piano and HiFi), which can also accommodate small ensembles.
• A classroom on the 3rd floor, including a music resource library, 2 PC workstations, HiFi and digital projector.
• A music tech/recording suite housing 2mac and 3 PC workstations
• Three practice rooms, each with a piano and one practice room/listening room with HiFi and keyboard.

Music department staff

The Department has two full time members of teaching staff plus technical support and additional help with enrichment. All staff are music graduates having a wide variety of expertise in both the 11-18 field as well as the 16-19 age group.

Mr. B. Askew, B.A. (Hons.), L.R.A.M., P.G.C.E.
(Head of Department)

Mr. Askew is a full time member of staff teaching Advanced Level music and music technology courses. He is a current examiner for Cambridge Advanced Level music recitals and composing components and is frequently invited to adjudicate. Mr. Askew has a special interest in music technology, conducts the Wind Band and College Choir and acts as co-M.D. for the annual production. His instrumental skills include clarinet, piano accordion and piano.

Miss S.W. Roberts, B.Mus (Hons.), M.Mus., PGCE.

Miss Roberts specialises in composing and contemporary music. She is a principal examiner, moderator and trainer for composing in both in the UK and Internationally. Miss Roberts is co-author of the current AS level Music study guide.
At Greenhead College she directs the choir, delivers music technology enrichment and works with small ensembles. She organises the concert trip programme and oversees the AQA Extended Project.

Mr. B. Talbot, BSc (Hons)

Brian Talbot provides specialist technical support for all aspects of music technology; whether recording compositions, score production, studio recording or helping students to develop their technology skills. Both Mac and PC platforms are fully supported in the Resource & Tech. room.