BTEC Nationals in

Music (2017)

Your guide to the

new qualifications.
 Whats in this guide

This guide will give you a introduction to your new BTEC Nationals in
Music(2017) and a first look at the type of units, assessment and
support to expect. Heres whats included:

About your new BTEC Nationals 3

Open the door to higher education and a career 4-5
Your new BTEC Nationals in Music (2017) 6
Your choice of course sizes 7-8
Practical assessments 10-11
Support to enable progression 12
Your next steps 13

Dont forget to sign up for updates well keep you posted with the
latest news and let you know when the draft specifications are
available to download.

2 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 About your new BTEC Nationals

Your new BTEC Nationals will:

Open the door to higher education and a career

Provide a choice of course sizes

Allow students to apply learning through a range of

practical assessments

Combine qualifications, resources and training to

enable progression.

View
our BTEC
promises
video

3 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Open the door to higher education and a career

Weve worked closely with over 5,000 employers, universities,

teaching professionals and trainers to develop the your BTEC
Nationals.

This means you can be confident that:

you have the right course to support your students

progression

these will be high-quality courses fitting into a a range of

curriculum plans

they will provide the knowledge your students need to

succeed.

PLUS weve included our most comprehensive support package yet see
page 12 for details of the FREE resources and support available to you.

Heres why higher education providers and employers

like the new BTEC Nationals

4 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Open the door to higher education and a career

More and more students are succeeding with BTEC

Did you know

62% of large companies have recruited employees with a BTEC

qualification Source: YouGov research (Large Businesses, Feb 2011)

The percentage of students entering university holding a

BTEC has risen from 24.9% in 2014 to 26% in 2015
Source: UCAS Progression Pathways Jan 2016

4 out of 5 BTEC students now in employment consider their BTEC

as an important step towards their desired job
Source: Further independent research from London Economics, 2010

Find out what employers,

higher education
providers and
students think
about BTEC

5 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Your new BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

Your new BTEC Nationals in Music (2017) will inspire learners to study Music
and prepare for higher education or employment.

They will:

provide an introduction to the study of the Music

sector

give entrants to the sector the underpinning knowledge

and skills needed to meet industry requirements

allow students to develop the transferable and higher

order skills so highly regarded by HE and employers.

Remember to sign-up for updates and well keep

you up to speed with the latest news.

6 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Your choice of course sizes

Your new BTEC Nationals in Music (2017) are available in four sizes. Weve
included a chart here to highlight the purpose and progression for these
qualifications. They can be studied alongside other Level 3 qualifications as part
of a larger programme of study, and all four sizes attract UCAS points.

Qualification Purpose Progression

name and
size

Higher education when taken as

Extended Certificate 360 GLH A broad introduction to the part of a programme of study
Equivalent in size to 1 A level study of music. including other qualifications, such
as BTEC Nationals or A levels.

A one year course for in depth Supports progression to higher

Foundation Diploma 510 GLH study of music. education when combined with
Equivalent in size 1.5 A levels
other Level 3 subjects.

In depth study for learners Supports progression to higher

Diploma 720 GLH education and employment when
committed to their study of music
Equivalent in size to 2 A levels combined with other Level 3 subjects.
alongside other qualifications

Two year full-time course

Extended Diploma 1080 GLH providing in-depth study of the Supports progression to higher
Equivalent in size to 3 A levels sector. education and self-employment.

7X New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Your Choice of course sizes

Your learners will study all the mandatory units as well as a choice of optional
units. The new qualifications also provide flexibility for your learners to progress
to the larger size qualifications. The following chart lists the Mandatory units:
Extended
Diploma
Extended Foundation Diploma
Assessment GLH (720
Mandatory Unit titles Certificate Diploma (1080
type GLH)
(360 GLH) (510 GLH) GLH)

1. Ensemble Music Performance

Task 120 MS(P) M(P) M(P) M(P)
Techniques

2. Practical Music Theory and Harmony Assignment 90 M(P) M(P) M(P) M(P)

3. Professional Practice in the Music M(P)

Task 90 M(P) M(P) M(P)
Industry

4. Music Skills Development Assignment 90 MS(P) M(P) M(P)

5. Music in Context Task 120 M (P) M (P)

6. Creating a Music Product Assignment 90 MS(P) MS(P)

M(P)
7. Critical Listening Written exam 120

Key (P) = Students must pass this unit

MS Mandatory Synoptic

M Mandatory
The next page shows the Optional units available
8 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017) Units are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
 Your Choice of course sizes

The chart below lists the Optional units available:

Extended
Extended Foundation
Optional Unit titles Assessment GLH Diploma Diploma
Certificate Diploma
type (720 GLH) (1080
(360 GLH) (510 GLH)
GLH)

Choose 1 Choose 2 Choose 2 Choose 6

from 5 from 6 from 7 from 13

8. Arranging Music Assignment 60 O O

9. Composing Music Assignment 60 O O O O

10. Music and sound for the Moving

Assignment 60 O
Image
11. Contemporary Songwriting
Assignment 60 O
Techniques

12. Music Promotion Assignment 60 O O O O

13. Live Music Events Assignment 60 O O O

14. Music Investigation Assignment 60 O

15. Contemporary Art Music in Practice Assignment 60 O

16. Music Performance Session Styles Assignment 60 O O O O

17. Vocal Development Assignment 60 O

18. Solo Performance Assignment 60 O O O O

19. Improvising Music Assignment 60 O

20. Music Software Skills

Assignment 60 O O O O

9 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017) Units are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
 Practical assessments

The new BTEC Nationals use a combination of assessment styles to enable your learners to
showcase their skills and application of knowledge, so they can progress to higher education or
employment. Your BTEC Nationals in Music have three types of assessment:

Assessment Format Students demonstrate

Set and marked by: Practical tasks Application of knowledge and skills to
Centre (school, complete a practical project over a
Work-related scenarios
Assignments college or training period of time, working individually or
provider) Can be tailored to local in groups.
industry needs
Verified by: Pearson

Practical real life, Application of learning to common

Tasks
work-related scenarios workplace or HE scenarios, providing a
Set and marked by: and time-based consistent standard of assessment for
BTEC
Pearson pressures all BTEC Students.
Tasks
Information Controlled conditions,
video some tasks have pre-
released information

Students draw on Exams help to ensure that all students

essential information to are consistently assessed. They help
Set and marked by: create written answers employers and higher education to
Written Exam
Pearson to practical questions in trust that BTEC students come with the
exam conditions. same consistent base of knowledge and
skills.

The next page will explain how assignments are graded

10 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)
 Practical assessments

Grading accurately reflects student performance and achievement

Each BTEC Nationals unit is individually graded either Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Each unit contributes points proportionally to the overall grade allowing students
to gain recognition in areas where they excel.

A students final grade is decided by their performance across the qualification

based on a combined total of points earned from assessments.

Students need to pass most (and in some cases, all) mandatory content weve

highlighted these for you on the chart on page 8.

For help and advice around BTEC grading, watch this short video guide.

In under 2 minutes, you'll get a simple summary with guidance

on where to find more information in your specification.

And, you can always contact your subject advisor

TeachingMusic@pearson.com who will be happy to help.

11 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Support to enable progression

Weve put together a comprehensive FREE support package to support your

delivery of the new BTEC Nationals in Music (2017).

Plan Teach Assess & Track Develop

Get to know your Gather your FREE Examine the guidance Develop your expertise
course teaching resources
Quality Assurance Launch events
Draft specifications Delivery guides guides Getting Ready to
Sample Assessment Schemes of Work Standards Verifier and Teach Events.
Materials Skills for learning and Quality Review visits
Delivery guides work activity sheets. Assessment and Collaborative networks
Course guides. assignment writing,
and Standardisation Support centres with
Attend FREE training employer involvement.
Plan your course training.
events
myBTEC course builder Collect examples of the
Face-to-face training
and planning tool standard
events
Delivery guides Authorised Assignment
Online training
Authorised Assignment events. Briefs
Briefs Specimen papers, tasks
Getting Ready to Teach and sample marked
events. learner work.

Recruit and prepare Gather assessment

learners templates and tools
Free skills for learning myBTEC assignment
and work activity briefs and progress
sheets. tracking. Sign-up for updates
and well let you know as
Reports and feedback soon as resources are
Examiner reports. available

12 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)

 Your next steps

1 Sign up for updates

Sign-up for the latest news about your
BTEC Nationals.

2 Find out more

Talk to our subject experts
UK: 020 7010 2176
Intl: + 44 (0)20 7010 2176
TeachingMusic@pearson.com

Stay in touch
3 @PearsonMusic1
@teachBTEC
@PearsonColleges
#IChooseBTEC

13 New BTEC Nationals in Music (2017)