Music

Course summary

The curriculum area of music is one of the largest in the country and offers a wide range of opportunities for music-making to about 200 students each week. It has a reputation for outstanding results and high standards. Experienced staff offer you a comprehensive musical education in an atmosphere that is friendly, sociable and yet hard-working. If you enjoy performing, listening to music, composing or arranging, this course could be ideally suited to you. The main areas of study will include: o Performing (35 or 25%) - A solo performance lasting 6 to 8 minutes (25%) or 10 to 12 minutes (35%) on your main instrument assessed by an external examiner visiting the music department. o Composing (35 or 25%) - Two compositions (25%) based on the Western Classical tradition and a free composition or three compositions (35%) based on the Western Classical tradition, a free composition and related to an additional area of study. o Appraising (40%) - Written examination based on three areas of study: (A) The development of the symphony from 1750-1900, one from (B) Rock and Pop, (C) Musical Theatre, (D) Jazz and (E) Into the 20th Century. You will study two symphonies (one in detail and general knowledge of another) and the development of the genre through history, and three 20th Century styles and two set works, one by Debussy and the other by Poulenc.