A Level Music

Preparation Booklet 1

Name _________________

Page Contents (* = compulsory) Complete?3 Course Overview4 Listening and Appraising Overview6 Listening Record8 Task 1: Performance*

10 Task 2: Concert Report*12 Task 3: Keywords*21 Task 4: Theory*

Welcome to A Level Music at The Friary School. Music A Level is an exciting but challenging course, and in order to be ready to start the course, you will need to complete this home learning booklet. There are four compulsory tasks:1. Performance preparation2. Concert Report3. Keyword Revision4. Theory WorksheetsThese must be completed by September.There are also stretch tasks, and it is highly recommended that you try and complete as many of these as possible.

If there is anything that you do not understand, please get in touch so that I can go through it with you. The majority of tasks require you to research and learn independently, but I am here to help you if it is needed. :)

Music A Level: Overview

Just like your GCSE, the course has three main components: Appraising (listening), Performance and Composition. This course overview will help you to see what is coming up, and it will be explained in more detail when you start the course in September. If you have any questions, write them at the bottom of the page to ask in September.

Music A Level: Overview

Music A Level: Overview

Music A Level: Overview

Area of Study 2: Pop Music

For the purpose of this specification, pop music is defined as popular mainstream music derived from and including a number of musical genres including rock, funk and R&B from 1960 to the present.

Named artists:• Stevie Wonder• Joni Mitchell• Muse

Listen to anything by these composers. You could try and find some lead sheets and play some ideas.See if you can find some live performance videos on YouTube.

• Beyonce• Daft Punk• Labrinth

Area of Study 3: Music for Media

For the purpose of this specification, music for media is defined as music specifically composed forfilm, television and gaming from 1958 to the present.

Named composers:• Bernard Herrmann• Hans Zimmer• Michael Giacchino• Thomas Newman• Nobuo Uematsu

Listening Record

Piece and Area of Study Analysis

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2

Listen to anything by these composers. You could try and find some lead sheets and play some ideas.See if you can find some live performance videos on YouTube.

Piece and Area of Study Analysis

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Piece and Area of Study Analysis

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Piece and Area of Study Analysis

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Task 1: Performance

Prepare a minimum of 5 minutes of music (at least two pieces) to perform as a recital upon your return in September.

• Choose pieces that are challenging. A Level Music has high expectations for performance and you need to be able to

demonstrate that you can perform at a high level in Year 13 (minimum

Grade 5).

• For accompaniment, you may use a backing track or provide a piano accompaniment for the performance (you will need to print sheet music for this). If the intention of the piece is for it to be unaccompanied, this is acceptable.

• You will need to print off sheet music for yourself and the teacher.

• If you need support in choosing/finding pieces, speak to one of the music department or your instrumental teacher.

Name of Piece ComposerApprox Level of Difficulty

Why I have chosen this piece

Performance Programme Note

Write a short programme note about the pieces you will be performing. This will usually include the following:• Repertoire (why you have chosen your performance pieces)

• Intended audience/venue

• Level of demand/difficulty

• Any features that are worth highlighting (e.g. a particular solo section or rhythmic section that is to be focussed on).

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Task 2: Concert Report

Attend, or watch online, a live musical performance over the summer, and write a short report about it. There are so many great events to

choose from, e.g. a pop/rock concert, a music festival, an orchestral classical concert, a solo recital, an opera, a Prom (e.g. BBC Proms in the Park)…

Your report should contain the following details:

• Why you chose this performance

• What made the performance compelling to watch (or maybe not so

compelling - give your honest opinion!)

• How the performance has inspired your own performance preparation (in

repertoire choice or performance techniques, for example)

• Some deeper background into the genre of music that was performance

(when and how this style of music developed, key features of the music,

significant artists in the genre etc.)

• A description of the music itself that was performed (including reflection on

melody/harmony/tonality/structure/timbre/texture/tempo/metre/rhythm/

dynamics/articulation)

• Optional: Images of the event/artist.

Type your report here: Or if you prefer you may print and write on the lines

provided…

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Task 3: Keywords

Complete and mark these glossary worksheets. The answers will be given to you in a separate booklet.

• Write down here the pages you have completed:

• Write here any questions you have / any words you do not understand:

Essential Glossary:

Word Definition

Alto

Anacrusis

Bass

Basso Continuo

Cadence

Chord Progression

Chromatic

Circle of 5ths

Concertino

Concerto Grosso

Conjunct

Cross Rhythm

Diatonic

Disjunct

Dissonant

Double Stopping

Leitmotif

Melismatic

Mezzo Soprano

Pedal Note

Recitative

Sample

Sus Chord

Suspension

Word Definition

Syllabic

Syncopation

Tenor

Stretch Glossary:Word Definition

ORGANISATION OF PITCH (MELODY AND HARMONY)

Arpeggio

Cadence

Bass Line

Chord

Conjunct

Disjunct

Dissonance

Chord Sequence

Drone

Fanfare

Ground Bass

Harmony

Interval

Leap

Melody

Melodic Device

Monotone

Ornamentation

Ostinato

Pedal

Riff

Roman numerals

Scale

Sequence

Word Definition

Stepwise

Theme

TONALITY

Atonal

Chromatic

Dominant (key)

Key

Major

Minor

Modal

Modulation

Pentatonic

Relative Minor/Major

FORM AND STRUCTURE

Binary

Introduction

Phrase

Rondo

Sonata Form

Ternary

Strophic

SONORITY

Articulation

Timbre

TEXTURE

Accompaniment

Continuo

Heterophony

Homophonic

Monophonic

Polyphonic

Two-part

Word Definition

Imitation

TEMPO, METRE AND RHYTHM

Beat

Dotted Rhythm

Duration

Shuffle

Swing

Swung Rhythm

Syncopation

Triplets

DYNAMICS

Crescendo

Diminuendo

Forte

Piano

Accent

Terraced Dynamics

PERFORMING MATTERS

Solo

Tone

Forces

Ensemble

Glissando

Hammer on

Harmonics

Improvisation

Tessitura

Wah-Wah

Phrasing

Pizzicato

Sequencing

Word Definition

Word Painting