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Key Stage 5

🎵 Music

Study music at A Level with live, teacher-led lessons, specialist support and a curriculum that develops performers, composers and analytical thinkers.

Overview

A Level Music develops the analytical, practical and creative skills needed for university-level study and professional musical life. Students engage with repertoire across genres and periods, build compositional technique, and develop the critical listening skills that underpin all areas of the qualification.

What Students Study

Musical Analysis, History and Theory

Students study set works in depth, placing them in their historical and cultural context and developing the theoretical vocabulary needed for written analysis and the Listening and Appraising examination.

  • Set works across periods and genres
  • Musical language, harmony and form
  • Historical and cultural context

Performance Practice and Interpretation

Students develop and refine their performance repertoire with ongoing teacher guidance, building the technical control, musicality and stage confidence needed for the externally assessed recital.

  • Solo and ensemble performance
  • Technique, phrasing and interpretation
  • Preparation and feedback towards recital

Composition and Creative Techniques

Students write original pieces across a range of styles, developing their command of musical structure, texture and form through practical and progressively independent creative work.

  • Compositional techniques across contrasting styles
  • Structure, texture and form
  • Building and refining a composition portfolio

Set Works and Stylistic Context

Students engage closely with prescribed works from the Edexcel specification, developing the precision and critical vocabulary needed to analyse style, structure and compositional decisions in both familiar and unseen music.

  • Detailed set work study and annotation
  • Stylistic comparison and contextual analysis
  • Written analytical technique

Aural Perception and Critical Listening

Students develop their listening skills and musical judgement through regular aural work, training the ear to identify, compare and evaluate musical features across a range of styles and periods.

  • Identifying musical features and devices aurally
  • Comparative listening across styles and periods
  • Exam technique for unseen extracts

Assessment & Progress

The school follows the Pearson Edexcel A Level Music specification. This qualification is assessed across three components: Performance, Composition, and Listening & Appraising. Students build towards these through weekly performance and composition assignments, termly project-based assessments, and mock examinations with individual written feedback.

  • Performance (externally assessed recital)
  • Composition (submitted portfolio)
  • Listening and Appraising (written examination)

Course Details

Assessment

  • Assessment is split across three components
  • Performing — 30%, internally assessed and externally moderated. Students perform a programme of pieces on their chosen instrument or voice
  • Composing — 30%, internally assessed and externally moderated. Students submit a portfolio of original compositions
  • Appraising — 40%, written examination assessing knowledge of set works and wider listening
  • All externally moderated work is submitted to Pearson Edexcel at the end of the course

Course Duration

The International A Level course runs over two academic years (Years 12 and 13). Students have continuous access to live online lessons, one-to-one subject support, and learning resources throughout the programme.

Course Outcome

Students who successfully complete all required examinations are awarded the Pearson Edexcel International A Level qualification. This is recognised by universities and higher education institutions worldwide as equivalent to UK A Levels.

Entry Requirements

  • Five or more International GCSE grades at C/4 or above (or equivalent)
  • Grade B/6 or above at IGCSE level in the chosen A Level subject or a closely related subject
  • A pass in an internal subject assessment completed prior to enrolment
  • Students whose English is not their first language must provide a language certificate showing a minimum B2 level in all components, or sit an internal English assessment
  • Two years of previous school reports are required
FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Have questions about A Level Music? Here are some of the key things families often want to know.

Next steps

Ready for university?

Our Sixth Form A Level programme gives students the grades, skills, and personal statement support to secure their university place.