AS Music

Student
Handbook
2011
2012
Harris Academy
Bromley
Miss Watson / Miss Masterson
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Introduction to AS Music
Over the course of the next academic year, you will be studing the Edexcel GCE AS Level Music course.
The course is divided into three units. An outline of each of these units is found overleaf.
Course Materials
There will be a lot of paper flying around during this year! You will need to make sure you are organised.
You will need to purchase:
A ringbinder and 10 file dividers
A pad of A4 lined paper
Pencil, pencil sharpener and rubber
Ruler (a small 15cm ruler will do)
Print off some manuscript paper off the internet (search via www.google.com)
You will also need to buy Sennheiser headphones (these cost 4 from Amazon.co.uk) in order to
complete your composition work on the computers.

Course expectations
You will receive 4 hours of AS level music lessons every week with Miss Watson and Miss Masterson.
There is also an optional after-school session on Fridays (3.30 4.30) for you to discuss your work, for
compositions and to practise your performances.
In addition, it is expected that you take 30 minutes of instrumental tuition every week. Ideally, you
should be practising for 45 minutes every day.

Coursework deadlines
Friday 23
rd
March 2012 Composition coursework to be handed in.
Friday 30
th
March 2012 Performance coursework completed.
Monday 14
th
May 2012 EXAM: AS Level Paper 3: Developing Musical Understanding

In addition, we will be taking in your AS Music folders on a regular basis (at least once every half term).
You must make sure that these are up to date and well-organised.
Studying at AS Level can be very intensive. We will be going through the course thoroughly and at a
relatively fast pace, so it is vital that you are always willing to contribute towards class discussions as
well as to let the Music Department know if you do not understand anything or are have any issues.
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Unit Descriptions
Unit 1 - Performing Music (30%)
You will be expected to perform a piece of music that lasts approximately 5 to 6 minutes. It must
be at Grade 5 standard, and can be a solo and/or ensemble performance. You must record your
performance at school, but this can be done at any point before the course deadline. You will also
have the opportunity to rerecord if you so wish.
It is vital your piece is at least Grade 5 standard or above, otherwise you will not be able to access
the higher mark bands for this part of the course. If you are in any doubt, contact your instrumental
teacher or speak to us. Alternatively, the Edexcel exam board has issued a list of pieces with grade
level. This can be found at <insert hyper link here>.
It is also important that your piece lasts five minute or longer. You can play more than one piece
when you come to record though, all pieces must be recorded at the same time. Failure to perform
for at least five minutes will mean a reduction in marks for every 30 seconds you fall short.
You may also wish to play an ensemble piece. There can be a maximum of five players, including
yourself, and your part must have a substantial solo within it. It must also have been originally
scored for the ensemble. If you are in any doubt, please talk to Miss Watson.
The majority of your preparation will come from your instrumental/singing lessons and the time
you put in to your practice. However, over the course of the year, we will be holding performance
master classes. These will be held on the following dates:
o Friday 30
th
September 2011, periods 1 and 2;
o Friday 4
th
November 2011, periods 1 and 2;
o Friday 2
nd
March 2012, periods 1 and 2.
For these, you must be ready to perform a piece. Even if you do not feel ready, we can still learn a
lot about the process of learning a piece of music. If you require a piano part, you must give Miss
Watson the music two weeks in advance of these dates so that we can create a great performance!
Ultimately, these sessions are for you to get more feedback on your performance. I am not always
expecting a finished article.
The final deadline for all performance submissions is Friday 30
th
March 2012.



Your performance(s) will be assessed on:
Quality of Outcome (how well you interpreted your piece);
Pitch and Rhythm (how accurate you are in these areas);
Fluency and Tempo (little hesitation, tempo changes and following the
composers tempi);
Tone and Technique (how amazing you sound on your instrument!); and
Phrasing, Articulation and Dynamics (how well you realize a composers
instructions).
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Unit 2 - Composing (30%)
You will be expected to produce a three-minute composition in response to a chosen brief, as
given by the exam board. You have 15 hours to complete this under controlled conditions.
In addition, you must also comment on your composition, offering an analysis as well as detailing
how other pieces of music have influenced your composition. This will be completed in a one hour
exam at the beginning of the final term.
Work on your composition coursework will start in the second term (after the Christmas holidays).
In order to help you, the AS course has been designed to provide you with some composition
technique classes. In these classes, we will be covering various aspects of composition that will help
you when you come to compose your own.
The composition
You will choose from one of four composition briefs. Each brief will be set to focus you on
particular areas of composition as well as allowing you the freedom to work in any style or genre.
You may write from any instrument or voice, or combination, as long as it is in keeping with the
compositional brief.
You will be required to submit a detailed notated score. I would strongly advise using Sibelius.
You can also submit a written manuscript.
In addition, you must also submit a recording, either live, studio-produced or a MIDI mock up.
You will have 15 hours to complete the composition. It is imperative that you do not take your
composition outside of the music classroom.
If either myself or Miss Masterson suspect that your work has been copied from an existing
composition, we will not be able to send off your coursework. Plagiarism and copying of others
work is an extremely grave offence.

How your compositions are marked
Compulsory assessment criteria: Optional assessment criteria any two of the
following:
1. Quality of Outcome (how effective your
composition is and how well you have met
the brief);
2. Coherence (examining how well the piece
is structured, both on a large and small
scale, and how well you achieve a balance
of unity and variety);
3. Forces and Textures (how well you have
used the forces you have chosen and
management of textures).
4. Harmony (Choice of chords, progressions
and dissonances, as well as modulations);
5. Melody (how well the shape of your
melody comes across is it memorable?
Have you managed to create melodic
interest?);
6. Rhythm (how rhythmically interesting your
piece is).


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CD Sleeve Notes
You will have one hour to complete this part of the coursework. You will need to consider how
you will answer the following questions:
1. Explain and comment on form and structure, indicating in particular how repetition and
contrast are balanced. (4 marks)
2. Mention four other features of interest. You can refer to any two or more of the
following: rhythm; melodic development; texture; handling of instrument(s) and/or
voice(s); harmony. (4 marks)
3. Refer to pieces from the anthology and/or elsewhere, to explain how other pieces of
music have influenced you in your composition. (12 marks)
Listening Log
In addition, the Music Department requires you to complete a listening log. Each week, you
should listen to at least two or three pieces, and to note these down on the listening log page
(see the back of this handbook). You should also comment on five things you like from each
composition and that you would hope to include in your composition. I suggest you pick one
piece you like, listen to it on YouTube, then select two further pieces from the Suggested Links
page. Make sure that you achieve a variety of listening I am sure Mozart will have learnt a lot
from Eminem (and vice versa)!

We will not be treating this formally as a piece of homework. However, if you choose not to do it,
you will be reducing your chances of success in the composition part of this course.


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Unit 3 - Developing Musical Understanding (40%)
This part of the course is assessed through a 2-hour examination paper on Monday 21
st
May
(PM). There are three sections:
1. Listening (listen to extracts of music and answer questions on them);
2. Investigating musical styles (studying scores of set pieces, then answering questions
and essays on them without the Anthology in the exam);
3. Understanding Chords and Lines (completing five chords of a Bach chorale and using a
score to identify harmonic and tonal features).
Biggest piece of advice: dont get scared. Keep your rational head on! Your course has been
designed so that we can go through everything in detail, giving you enough time to practice and
to ensure you have has much time as possible at the end of the course to go through all the
material so that you can go into the exam feeling confident and prepared.
Your anthology is your bible make sure you bring it with you to every lesson. After we have
gone through a set work lesson, I recommend that you listen to it with the score as soon as you
can, revise your notes, and then listen once more and challenge yourself to see how much you
can aurally identify.
We will expect you to complete essays during the course, and these could be as frequent as
every week. The more you do, the more prepared you will be for the exam.
Miss Masterson will be going through the vocal set works with you Miss Watson will take the
instrumental set works as well as the Understanding Chords and Lines paper.

Remember, if you feel you are struggling or do not understand anything, you must speak to
either of us so that we know how best to help you.



It is never too early
to start revision.
The sooner you
start, the better
prepared you will
be for the exam.
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Useful links
Take the time to explore as many of these as you can. If you find any more, share them with your
colleagues and your teachers!
www.edexcel.com (select the course from
the dropdown menu)
Online information on the syllabus as well as extra revision
notes on each of the set works and the composition briefs.
http://imslp.org/wiki/ Music score search engine, run in collaboration with
Wikipedia, with a wealth of music from composers up until
the mid-20
th
century. Useful for all the AS course
components.
www.choraleguide.com A fantastic guide to help you with the Bach chorales. Key
points and strategies for completing Bach chorales as well
as revision resources.
www.tonalityguide.com Run by the same man as above good for the
Understanding Chords and Lines paper.
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learnlistenin
gonline/
An excellent website take the time to explore it all! It
introduces key concepts and has excellent listening
examples.
http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.h
tm
A very detailed website, excellent definitions and very
thorough explanations of key concepts and periods of
history.
http://www.naxos.com/NewDesign/flearni
ng.files/blearning.htm
Naxos is a major classical music group, and this resource is
fantastic in providing detailed and correct factual
information on all aspects of classical music.
http://www.soundjunction.org A general resource covering all aspects of musicianship,
including composing.
www.bymt.co.uk Bromley Youth Music Trust a guide to local performances
and groups to join great for building your performance
skills.
http://www.lpo.co.uk/education/students.
html
There is nothing like going to see a live classical music
concert delivered by one of the most prominent
orchestras in the world. Join the Noise scheme and receive
regular offers to go and see the orchestra perform live for
4!








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Listening Log
Date Artist and Title of Composition Things you liked about it

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