Music A Level Exam Board: AQA

Exam Dates: Component 1 : Appraising Music (2hours 30 minutes) 18th June am Component 2: Performance (10 minutes and above) Compositions x2 (total 4.5 minutes minimum) All practical work to be submitted by May 7th

Coursework & Exam Overview: Appraising Music Exam (120 marks)

Section A: Listening (56 marks)

Western Classical Tradition (20 marks) – Spend 25 minute on this section

AOS 2 Pop Music (18 marks) – spend 20 minutes on this section

AOS 5 Jazz Music (18 marks) - spend 20 minutes on this section

Section B: Analysis and Context (34 marks) – spend 40 minutes on this section

Section C -Essay (30 marks) – spend 45 minutes on this section

Performance (50 marks)

A recorded recital of at least 10 minutes’ performance on an instrument/s of your choice

Scores/lead sheets must be submitted for all performances

Composition (50 marks)

Composition 1: Composition to a brief (25 marks)

Composition 2: Free composition (25 marks)

Both compositions must be scored

Guide to Exam Papers: 1. Listening

Western Classical Tradition

3 extracts of unseen music chosen from the Baroque solo concerto, piano music of Chopin, Brahms and Grieg and Mozart operas.

Mixture of 1-mark answers, filling in the gaps in notation (6 marks) and 10 mark extended writing analysis of features.

AOS questions

choose AOS 2 Pop Music and AOS 5 Jazz from the available questions

2 extracts for each AOS. Mixture of 1 mark questions and 10 mark extended writing analysis of features

2. Analysis and Context

Choose questions on Baroque solo concerto and 19th century piano music ONLY

Based on set works

Use of blank score

Mixture of 1 mark, 5 mark and 10 mark extended writing questions

All questions involve analysis of the score following extracts 3. Essay

Choose question on EITHER AOS 2 Pop Music OR AOS 5 Jazz

You will need to write in detail about 2 pieces from 2 artists

Use examples to illustrate your points

Always plan your essay before you start writing

Areas of revision Set works:

Purcell: Sonata for Trumpet and Strings in D minor

Vivaldi: Flute Concerto in D Ill Gardellino

Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor

Chopin: Ballade no2in F

Chopin: Nocturne in E min

Brahms: Intermezzo in A

Brahms: Ballade in G min

Grieg: Norwegian March no 2

Grieg: Notturno General knowledge:

Mozart: Marriage of Figaro AOS 2 Pop Music

Stevie Wonder

Joni Mitchell

Muse

Labrinth

Daft Punk

Beyonce AOS 5 Jazz

Louis Armstrong

Duke Ellington

Charlie Parker

Miles Davies

Pat Metheny

Gwilym Simcock

Revision Tips

Make sure you are familiar with all the set works – listen to them frequently so you recognise what each movement sounds like

Practice analysing blank sections of the scores and picking out features of the period

Make sure you can identify key changes and you are confident in recognising key signatures

Learn all key vocabulary for all AOS

Learn all features of genres of music covered in all AOS

AOS 2 and 5 – all 6 artists need to be revised

AOS 2 and 5 - learn about 2 works from 2 artists in detail

AOS 2 and 5 - learn examples to illustrate key features – notate them if you can