b'Music Advanced General Certificate of EducationSubject Overviewa small audience present. It is recommended that The opportunities for students of Music have continuedstudents perform at Grade 7 standard or higher for to develop over the past decade, perhaps nowhere morethis unit.so than in the Midlands. As Birmingham continues to beComponent 2 - Composition and Technical Study. promoted as the nations Second City and attracts majorIn the second year students will complete two Arts organisations to the area, so the West Midlands iscompositions resulting in a minimum submission of becoming recognised as a centre for Culture and the Arts. six minutes of music.One of these compositions The Music course offered at Thomas Telford School iscan be a free brief composition or a composition in designed to provide students with a wide range of skillsresponse to a brief set by the examination board.and experiences.Practically, students will improve theirThe other composition will assess composition performance to Grade 7 (ABRSM/Trinity/LCM/RGT) standardtechnique skills developed throughout the courseor higher, which could allow more able students entry toComponent 3 - Appraising. Assessment is through Music College.All students will study composition froma two-hour examination paper comprising three traditional harmony through to the more modern stylessections. Students will be assessed on their aural of popular music with possibilities opening up for giftedanalysis skills and their understanding of set works, composers to take this further at Music College or University. analysing works from a written score.Opportunities to develop performance skills and contributeHow lessons are taughtto the musical ethos of the School are plentiful and studentsStudents are taught through a mixture of theory based are invited to join the instrumental ensembles or Choir, inand practical sessions. Students will have access to addition to participating in bespoke chamber ensembles anddigital audio workstations with the latest musical taking part in trips to experience live music.Performancesoftware including Cubase and Sibelius to develop and Tours to European destinations (France, Germany, Holland,record their composition work.In addition, students Belgium) are organised. are able to access a range of one-to-one instrumental 6.1and vocal lessons as part of our Thomas Telford Music Component 1Performing. This unit enables studentsSchool provision, which is delivered during Session 3.to develop their skills in performing. Students willProgressionperform one or more pieces as a soloist and/or as partThe Music Industry is vast and needs talented of an ensemble as part of a minimum of six minuteperformers, composers and technicians to support performance.It is recommended that students performit.Job opportunities exist in all spheres of Music from at Grade 6 standard for this unit. classical to contemporary popular Music and as a Component 2Composing. In this unit, students areresult a wide variety of university courses are on offer studying the art of composition. Students will exploredepending on individuals strengths.ideas or a free brief composition which will be completedComposer/Arranger (film, video games, orchestral for assessment. etc), Performer/Musical Director (classical, theatre, Component 3Appraising. Unit 3 will be examinedrock/pop etc), Music Writer/Journalist, Music Teacher, in the summer term and there will be one 90-minuteArts Administration, Music Administration, Sound examination. The examination will assess studentsEngineering, Recording.aural understanding of studied set works of differing musical styles and contexts, and will also assess theirExam Board Edexcelunderstanding of musical language.6.2 Subject Leader Ms V AdamsComponent 1Extended Performance. All studentsSpecific Entry Requirements: are required to submit an 8-10 minute recording6 GCSEs (Grades 9-5), including English and which may comprise solos and/or ensembleMathematics, Grade 6 in GCSE Music, good keyboard performances. The performances are recorded withor guitar skills or Grade 5 (ABRSM/Trinity/LCM/RGT) standard (practical and Theory of Music) on another 38 www.ttsonline.net'