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Music

The music courses at Queen Mary’s College is aimed at anyone interested in gaining a greater understanding of music. It is open to anyone who has a keen interest in studying European Art music as well as popular and contemporary music including Musical Theatre and who wishes to broaden their experience and deepen their understanding of both live and recorded music.

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.

We have 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.

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.

“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

Music
Cultivating artistry, mastering technique, stretching musical imaginations.

Discover the courses in full detail

Music Performance in QM Hall

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Music Performance

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Music performance

Music Performance in QM Hall

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Music Practice

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Music A Level

Find out more

This course is aimed at anyone interested in gaining a greater understanding of music. It is open to anyone who has a keen interest in studying European Art music as well as popular and contemporary music including Musical Theatre and who wishes to broaden their experience and deepen their understanding of both live and recorded music.

If you enjoy performing, listening to music, composing or arranging, this course is ideally suited to you. You will develop performing, composing and listening analytical skills in equal measure. You will be listening to and studying a wide variety of music. You will develop an informed appreciation of how such music works, how and why it was written and/or performed.

Music A Level Music offers the opportunity to study a wide range of musical languages, seen within their cultural and historical contexts. The course is taught by staff who specialise in composition and performance, providing outstanding opportunities for extra-curricular activities and extended projects; ranging from pit band for musical theatre productions, to chamber, brass and vocal ensembles, to music theory, to workshops and seminars on a variety of topics. You will be involved in many different activities including group work, individual study, tutorials, discussions, listening and performance projects.

Where can this course take me?

You will gain knowledge and understanding of music as a practical, intellectual and creative subject. The course aims to encourage you to;

Extend the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to communicate through music and take part in music making
Engage in, and extend your appreciation of the diverse and dynamic heritage of music, promoting spiritual and cultural development
Develop your particular strengths and interests, encouraging lifelong learning and providing access to music-related careers through a worthwhile, satisfying and complete course of study.
Develop your imagination, foster creativity and promote your personal and social development
Recognise the interdependence of musical skills, knowledge and understanding and the links between the activities of performing/realising, composing and appraising

Students completing the course successfully will have a thorough understanding of Music, highly honed analytical and creative skills and an ability to communicate effectively with others. This qualification is good preparation for going on to study Music at Universities, Selecting Universities, Music College or Conservatoires. Music combines well and contrasts with Mathematics and Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Media Studies and other Arts subjects. Music is accepted as an academic subject for entrance to Higher Education. Universities and other centres of Higher Education welcome it as an entrance qualification for a wide range of courses. In addition, during the course you will develop communication and teamwork abilities, which are highly valued by employers. Students continue their studies further at Music Colleges, Universities, Colleges of Higher Education or Conservatoires. Others simply enjoy making music for pleasure.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Individually you will have your instrumental or singing lesson once a week. Our practice rooms are open all day every day for your use, just don’t eat in them please! We have three concerts a year, Autumn, Spring and the Performing Arts Christmas Concert which features singing, dancing and acting (and Christmas Carols). You might perform solos or ensemble pieces in these. You’ll definitely be singing or playing in the carols! We also run the Pit Band for our big musical in January. This is performed by our full time Performing Arts classes but they need a live band….and no I can’t tell you what it is yet! We also have a number of other ensembles in the Music Department, depending on what instruments people play. In recent years these have included Barber Shop, String Quartet, Recorder Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble.

Students are also able to go on trips such as concerts, musicals and for those who would like, there is a Performing Arts trip to New York in the summer.

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Fun facts

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.
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.
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.

Music Vocational Single

Find out more

The UAL Awarding Body Level 3 Diploma in Music Production and Performance is a practical and academic musical course that requires commitment from students. It is the equivalent of 1 ½ A Levels. It is a very intensive course for practical musicians. You should be skilled in playing at least one instrument and you need to have a very keen interest in popular music.

Where can this course take me?

The BTEC Foundation Diploma in Music has the equivalence of 1 ½ A Levels, and it is possible for you to progress further into Higher Education. Universities, Music Colleges and other centres of Higher Education welcome it as an entrance qualification for a wide range of courses. In addition, it is likely that you will have acquired transferable skills such as teamwork, collaboration, planning, time management, communication, self-motivation, decision making, self¬-awareness and interpersonal skills, which are highly valued by employers.

You will study a broad range of music performance skills and techniques that explore a range of genres and practitioners, gaining valuable skills such as:

creative development: development of music skills
management: planning and overseeing projects
analytical skills: self-analysis and reflection
teamwork: appreciation of the music industry and your future role in it
presentation: the ability to present yourself and your achievements effectively

Students will develop some of the skills required by a contemporary musician. They will be encouraged to perform as much as possible, and will develop the skills required to study music at undergraduate level.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Students are also able to go on trips such as concerts, musicals and for those who would like, there is a Performing Arts trip to New York in the summer.

NY 1

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Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.26.54

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.30.16

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Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.39

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.30.27

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.28.09

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.27.54

Fun Facts

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.
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.
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.

Music Vocational Extended

Find out more

The UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Music Production and Performance is an exciting and comprehensive full-time course. It is the equivalent of 3 A Levels. It is a very intensive course for practical musicians. You should be skilled in playing at least one instrument and you need to have a very keen interest in popular music.

Where can this course take me?

The BTEC Extended Diploma in Music has the equivalence of 3 A Levels, and it is possible for you to progress further into Higher Education. Universities, Music Colleges and other centres of Higher Education welcome it as an entrance qualification for a wide range of courses. In addition, it is likely that you will have acquired transferable skills such as teamwork, collaboration, planning, time management, communication, self-motivation, decision making, self-awareness and interpersonal skills, which are highly valued by employers. You will study a broad range of music performance skills and techniques that explore a range of genres and practitioners, gaining valuable skills such as:

creative development: development of music skills
management: planning and overseeing projects
analytical skills: self-analysis and reflection
teamwork: appreciation of the music industry and your future role in in it
presentation: the ability to present yourself and your achievements effectively.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Students are also able to go on trips such as concerts, musicals and for those who would like, there is a Performing Arts trip to New York in the summer.

NY 1

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.27.40

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.26.54

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.30.16

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.28.38

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.28.52

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.59

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.11

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.03

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.23

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.31

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.29.39

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.30.27

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.28.09

Screenshot 2021 10 04 At 08.27.54

Fun facts

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.
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.
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.

Interested in Music?

What do we do in Appraising?

We study the Western Classical Tradition, looking at the development of the Symphony and focusing particularly on Haydn’s Symphony 104. We also study Musical Theatre, working out what we can hear and why the composer has written it that way. In the second year we start Into The Twentieth Century, looking at pieces bu Debussy and Poulenc and how they fit into the changing sounds of the time.

When do I get to play music?

Do we do any good trips?

Usually yes, however COVID-19 has had an impact. Typically we would go to concerts, a musical and for those who would like there is a Performing Arts Trip to New York most summers.

Do I need to want a career in Music?

No! Obviously it’s an option, but we also have students go on to study quantum physics, law and nursing! Universities and employers really like A Level Music, it shows you are a creative thinker, a team player, a listener, a problem solver, self disciplined…what’s not to like?!