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Music A2/A Level 3

at Highworth Grammar School, Ashford · school or sixth form

Level 3A levelsGCE A level11 monthsFull time

What the college says

Unit 1 Performing Music: Students will perform as soloists and/or as part of an ensemble. Music from any style can be chosen. Any instrument(s) and/or voice(s) are acceptable as part of an assessed performance of at least five minutes. Notated and/or improvised performances may be submitted. Unit 2 Composing: Students develop their composition skills in a three-minute piece in response to a chosen brief. Students write a CD sleeve note to describe aspects of their final composition and explain how other pieces of music have influenced it. Unit 3 Developing Musical Understanding: This unit focuses on listening to familiar music and understanding how it works. Set works provide the focus for the first two sections. Important music features will be learned within their social and historical context. In the third section, students use a score to identify harmonic and tonal features and then apply them to complete a short passage for SATB. Unit 4 Extended Performance: Students extend their performance skills as soloists and/or as part of an ensemble. Music can be chosen in any style. Any instrument(s) and/or voice(s) are acceptable as part of a 12-15 minute assessed performance of a balanced programme of music. Notated and/or improvised performances may be submitted. Unit 5 Composition and Technical Study: Students must complete two tasks in this unit: normally one composition and one technical study. Composition skills are developed into a final three minute piece in response to

What you need to get on

Students should have passed GCSE music and achieved Level 6 or above (there may be exceptions if students have achieved Grade 6 practical or above in Associated Board Exams or Trinity School of Music Examinations). Students also need to be playing an instrument, or singing, at least to Grade 5 standard, whether or not they have taken an exam, and be able to read music confidently.

How you are assessed

Academic subjects, mostly exams, three or four at once. The traditional route to university.

What this level means

The A-level-equivalent step, and what universities and employers ask for.

Is it open to 16 to 18 year olds?

Approved for 16 to 18 study on the government's Section 96 list.

Where it runs

  • Highworth Grammar School

    Maidstone Road, ASHFORD, TN24 8UD

    DaytimeClassroom based
    Check the journey

Start dates

  • 1 September 2026 · ASHFORD

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