Music Technology

This specification is aimed at:

• Students who have studied music at GCSE (or who at least are studying an instrument seriously) and wish to develop further skills and understanding.
• Students who wish to study music, music technology or pop/rock music degrees.
• Students wishing to do a complementary subject at Post 16 (or as part of life-long learning).
• Students wishing to pursue a vocation in music technology/performing arts.

AS Music Technology

Unit 1 (AS) part a: Practical Work - Sequencing or Recording and Arranging

• Students interpret and realise 2 contrasting pieces of music using sequencing.
• Students will make 2 contrasting recordings.
• You are required to make an arrangement of two short pieces of music

Unit 1 (AS) part b: Written Work: Listening & Analysing

A two-hour Listening and Analysis Examination in June of the year of entry based around examples from all styles of music and identifying specific techniques of recording, orchestration, style etc.

A2 MUSIC TECHNOLOGY Unit 2 part a: Practical work

• Students must produce a 3-4 minute multi-track recording of a piece involving at least four live tracks. They must also produce a sequenced backing track of a piece containing at least 6 parts.
• Students use computer software and/or multi-track recording to produce two compositions. These will link into the Area of Study for A2.

Unit 2 part b: Written Work

This unit involves synoptic tasks that test the knowledge, skills and understanding developed across the whole two years in three assessments:

• Analysis and discrimination.
• Controlling and interpreting MIDI data (practical test)
• Music technology in context (1 hour written paper with CD).

CAREER PROSPECTS The music technology course will enable students to:

• Study music technology or a performing arts subject in higher education.
• Gain access to a range of technology/computer-orientated careers such as sound recording and those linking music and media.