Aims of the course
Pupils will
• develop skills in the analysis of music in the context of 20th and 21st century musical styles and genres
• develop a broad understanding of the music industry, including an awareness of the implications of intellectual property rights
• develop skills in the use of music technology hardware and software to capture and manipulate audio
• use music technology creatively in sound production in a range of contexts
• critically reflect on their own work and that of others
The course has three main areas of study
Developing and understanding of 20th and 21st century music:
You will study the development of Popular Music from Early Jazz and Blues right though to Hip Hop and Electronic Dance Music. In addition to this, you will learn about key innovators in the Music Industry, technological development that have shaped how we record and listen to music as well as investigating Intellectual Property and Copyright issues within Music.
Developing music technology skills:
Pupils will learn how to capture sound in a variety of ways using microphones, handheld digital recorders, direct injection recording and MIDI. You will then learn how to edit, add effects to and mix your recordings to create a professional sounding audio master.
Music technology contexts:
You will apply the skills you have learned in the developing music technology skills unit to a variety of contexts such as audiobooks, multitrack recordings, radio show, music for gaming and film foley. You will work within assignment briefs to create and carry out your own sound designs.
How is the course assessed?
The Assignment is externally assessed and is worth 70% of the overall grade. Pupils will work towards the following:
• Plan – A very detailed plan of how they will carry out their project
• Project – They will apply their skills in using hardware and software to record audio and manipulate the sound. The project will be 4-7 minutes and they will keep a detailed log of their daily progress.
• Evaluation – they will carry out a detailed evaluation of their plan and project, showcasing their ability to carry out self-evaluation and critically reflect on their own work.
Understanding Music listening skills are assessed with a 1 hour written listening exam and is worth 30% of the overall grade
