Music Technology A Level

Music Technology A Level

This qualification will support students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music technology through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills.

WELCOME TO THE PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT

We have high expectations of all of our Performing Arts students and aim to challenge you to achieve outstanding results. Excellent facilities and a team of highly dedicated and committed teachers will ensure that you are provided with every chance of succeeding during your time at College. At QMC professional equipment and facilities have been carefully chosen to enhance your learning and help you acquire the skills you will need to work in the performing arts and music industries.

The world needs creativity. As well as preparing you for a career in performing arts, we also help prepare you for a range of alternative courses and professions. By studying our courses, you can gain transferable and employability skills that are valued by a whole range of employers and universities. You can go on to study and have successful careers in a wide range of job roles from law to paramedicine.

 

Here at QMC, we are delighted to have become a Music Mark School Member in recognition of the excellent courses, facilities, teaching and opportunities for Music students. The Music teaching staff at QMC are all active musicians, composers, engineers, producers and examiners in their own right, and are able to relay their industry experience to their students.

Our students go on to study music at universities, music schools and conservatoires. Further to this, past students have gone on to become professional musicians, with artist endorsements from some of the world’s leading brands. “Thank you for all the hard work you do to ensure that students are able to access and engage with high-quality music education.” – Bridget Whyte, Chief Executive, Music Mark.

Our Performing Arts mission is to develop Creativity and Academic Excellence for your future:

  • Strive for excellence and innovation
  • Be authentic
  • Be exciting, inspiring and engaging
  • Ensure a positive and inclusive experience
  • Enable personal progression

Excellent facilities and a team of highly dedicated and committed teachers will ensure that you are provided with every chance of succeeding during your time at College. At QMC we are fully equipped with professional equipment and facilities which have been carefully chosen to enhance your learning and help you acquire the skills you will need to work in the performing arts and music industry.

Music Technology

Course Summary

This qualification will support students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music technology through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills. These include recording, technology-based composition, listening, analysing and producing. Students will be encouraged to engage with a wide range of music technology techniques and develop an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the use of music technology in the creation and production of music. This qualification will also allow students to develop particular strengths and interests and provide access to higher education and university degree courses in music technology and music technology-related subjects, as well as music technology-related and other careers.

Specific Entry Requirements

GCSE Music is preferable (but not an essential entry requirement). You will need to be enthusiastic about listening to a wide range of popular music and be willing to work with sequencing software and recording technology in your own time. You should have some existing skills as a musician and be willing to develop basic keyboard skills during the course.

Progression Skills and Opportunities

Students completing the course successfully will have a thorough understanding of Music Technology, highly honed analytical and creative skills and an ability to communicate effectively with others.

This qualification is good preparation for Music Technology at University or Music College. Music Technology combines well with and complements Mathematics and Science (particularly Physics and Electronics), Media Studies and other Arts subjects. The study of Music Technology offers numerous transferable skills that are valued in Higher Education where it is welcomed as an entrance qualification for a wide range of courses. In addition, it is likely that you will have developed qualities of communication and teamwork which are valued by employers. Students continue their studies further at music colleges, universities or colleges of Higher Education, others simply enjoy making music for pleasure.

How is the course assessed?

There are two pieces of coursework and two exams – all sat in year two

What topics will I be studying?

  • Component 1 – Recording
  • Component 2 – Technology based composition
  • Component 3 – Listening and Analysing
  • Component 4 – Producing and Analysing

Will I need specialist materials or equipment?

Your own pair of closed back, over ear headphones. Please contact the course leader via email if you would like advice about buying.

Reasons to...

Join Music Technology

1. The arts create independent learners and develop students emotional intelligence. They require the students to set their own agenda from within themselves, rather than follow set topics as in other subjects. They have to make independent decisions all the way, and be self-critical. They also need to be brave in exposing their creations, and accept criticism. Working in teams makes students into effective communicators.

2. The arts are stretching drama, music, and art require long hours of hard work and dedication. Students have to pay great attention to detail, to perfect and re-do. Putting on a play, exhibition or concert takes strong organisational skills.

3. Arts students are highly sought-after by employers. Many employers now actively seek those who have studied the arts. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, was fond of saying his success was due to his hiring artists and musicians fascinated by technology rather than computer geeks. Top talent management agency, The Curve Group, specialising in financial and business services, concurs: “Employees with an arts degree have developed more quickly in their roles from the start. They have discipline, confidence and can accept criticism.”

4. Arts ‘reach the parts other subjects can’t reach.’ The arts develop the broader dimensions of the human being – mind, body and soul. The arts can express the inexpressible and make sense of things that otherwise do not seem to. This can be very fulfilling and helps us function as human beings – which can only be good for society as a whole.

5. Arts ‘reach the students other subjects can’t reach.’ Teachers find arts subjects particularly beneficial for two groups: those who struggle with traditional subjects and those who are high achieving. Less academic students can become defeatist if they feel they can’t achieve: drama, music or art can be the place they blossom. With studious students, the arts can bring them out of themselves and be a release.

The arts create independent learners and develop students emotional intelligence. They require the students to set their own agenda from within themselves, rather than follow set topics as in other subjects. They have to make independent decisions all the way, and be self-critical. They also need to be brave in exposing their creations, and accept criticism. Working in teams makes students into effective communicators.

Any Questions?

The Head of Department, Rob Cavill will be happy to help.

Send an Email