Bridging work for new starters 2021 Course: MUSIC Name of student: This booklet contains a number of tasks that students are expected to complete to a good standard in order to be able to be enrolled in this subject. Please complete the relevant theory audit tasks on an A4 electronic word document that is printed out and brought to your enrolment interview. The work handed in should be: written in full sentences with no copying and pasting from external sources. have all tasks completed have students’ full names on each sheet multiple sheet should be connected together This booklet also contains significant additional information and a range of optional tasks. We would encourage you to complete all the tasks but you do not need to bring any optional tasks to your enrolment interview. https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/as-and-a-level/music-7272/specification-at-a-glance 1 | P a g e Contents Page no. Welcome and introduction 3 Music Theory 4 -6 Performing 7 Composing 8 Listening 9 Wider Reading 10 HE & Careers 11 Musical Elements Key Vocabulary Glossary 12 - 17 2 | P a g e A level Music is a stimulating course that allows you to develop your creative response to a wide range of musical styles through performance, composition and analysis. Analysis work will develop your aural understanding of a wide range of music so you are able to confidently answer questions on the use of musical elements in familiar and unfamiliar music. This analysis enables you to develop your understanding of how to create your own work in a range of styles and how to effectively communicate as a performer in a range of genres. During the two years you will prepare a ten-minute portfolio of performance work and create two compositions with a wide choice of briefs. This practical and academic course provides you with a range of transferable skills such as creative and analytical thinking, confidence, personal evaluation, organisation and management of workload, useful in any chosen career path. 3 | P a g e Music theory In preparation for advanced Set Work Analysis and advanced Composition you need to work through the following 'Chapters' on the 'Focus on Sound’ app and audit your Music theory knowledge and learning. Since there are a number of chapters to work through it is advisable to set aside a one hour sessions to work through each chapter of this material, and possibly more where you are finding the material challenging. Go to: https://dixonsca.musicfirst.co.uk Enter your current username and password If do not have a username and password, please use the following: User name: t.rafnsson Password: 318dixfos TASK 1 Go to: Lessons/Music theory Complete the section shown on the screen shot by visiting each power point page, listening to each sound link and testing yourself by answering all the questions. You need to particularly focus on questions marked in blue (some of this should be familiar GCSE knowledge) and red (advanced A level knowledge). 4 | P a g e TASK 2 Go to: Sound words/keys Complete the following sections listening to each sound link and testing yourself by answering all the questions. You need to particularly focus on questions marked in blue (some of this should be familiar GCSE knowledge) and red (advanced A level knowledge). Tonality Basics Key Signatures – Major keys Key Signatures – Minor keys Modulations Other tonality terms After completing this section, you should aim to be confident working out the key of a piece of music and identifying when the music modulates. You can practise trying to identify modulations when listening to different pieces of music. You could also look at the music you are practising and make sure you can identify the key and if it modulates at any point. 5 | P a g e TASK 3 Go to: Sound words/chords Complete the following sections listening to each sound link and testing yourself by answering all the questions. You need to particularly focus on questions marked in blue (some of this should be familiar GCSE knowledge) and red (advanced A level knowledge). Chord basics Rock and Jazz Chords Pop chord Progressions Harmonic Intervals Classical chord names Chords and Inversions Chromatic Chords Dissonance Cadence Other harmony Jazz chord progressions As you work through each chapter in this section create an electronic audit sheet that you can email/print and bring to your first A Level lesson in September. The audit sheet should list each aspect of knowledge covered in the chapter, whether this consolidation or new knowledge, and notes to remind you of the 'new' knowledge (see example below) Example audit Consolidation New Chapter Notes Knowledge Knowledge Major 7th Major 7th chord sounds more clashing than the X chord standard 7th chord 11th note above the root as well as the 5th and 11th Chord X 7th. The 9th can be included as well but not the 3rd 6 | P a g e A Level Bridging Work Performing Performing is a huge part of A-Level music and is 30% of your final grade. So why not challenge yourselves to practise your instrument/voice for 30 minutes every day. You will be aiming to study repertoire of Grade 5 and above pieces. Transitioning to A-Level Music is all about transitioning on our instrument from one Grade/Skill level to the next. So this challenge will really help you to develop a good routine and progress. In your first few lessons your teachers will be discussing what pieces you would like to work on for your ten-minute performance and you will need to decide and hand in photocopies of the music you want to perform in your November Key Assessment 2. Regular practise and thought about the pieces you enjoy and feel confident performing will help you be successful in this aspect of the course. 7 | P a g e A Level Bridging Work Composing For the A level music course you are required to create 2 pieces of composition work. One is a free composition, and one is to a set brief sent by the exam board. For those who have studied GCSE composition this is very similar to the requirements of GCSE. The difference at A level is the expectation that you can handle the technical side of the music well; for example, including a modulation (transitioning to a different key), within the piece, using an imaginative structure, and creating more complex harmonies and rhythmic features. One of the most important things when composing is the ability to create ideas and to start getting them down onto paper. To help you with the link from Yr 11 to Yr 12 I’d like you to try and complete the following tasks: Task 1 Really think about what styles of music you enjoy listening to or singing/playing, and how any of the music you listen to could be a starting point for creating your own music In order to do this you need to break down the key elements of that music o Work out what instruments are playing o What kind of harmonies are used (can you get access to the chord structure or music and look at what is happening in the piece – the key, the chords, the different layers) o What is the overall structure of the piece (e.g. intro, verse, chorus, bridge, outro or intro, A, B, coda etc) o What different instruments/voices are used at different points in the piece – i.e. how is the texture/layers varied o How is the melody constructed – are there repetitive aspects? Can you identify any sequences or call & response techniques? Task 2 Taking into consideration some of the key things you have discovered about your chosen piece(s) above now try the following: o Can you come up with an 8 bar chord sequence (improvise on a guitar or keyboard if you have one, or use a piece of software if you have access to one) o Can you create a series of melodies that would go with the chord sequence, or stand-alone if you have been unable to create a chord sequence? o Can you develop the piece further, with additional layers? o Are you able to note any of it down – either on manuscript, graphically (chord symbols) or input to any software you have access to at home? 8 | P a g e A Level Bridging Work Listening Listening to music is a daily activity for Musicians. An important part of A – Level Music is being able to critically appreciate a wide genre of Music. The listening and appraising exam paper is 40% of your final grade. So why not challenge yourself to choose a different composer each week. Below is a list of composers and you can access music and programmes about these in the BBC Composer of the Week podcasts. There are also some good podcast and you tube links to Jazz musicians and Musical Theatre that link to other genres of music studies on the course. A good way to keep track of your listening is to buy yourself a note book and write down the Music you have listen to, who was performing it and comments about why you enjoyed or didn’t the music. You will find your Music teacher often discusses what she is listening to and will be inquisitive about your listening habits, keeping a diary record will help you feel more confident in these discussions and also prepare you for the wide variety of music you will cover on the course.