Course Summary
Three Areas of Study underpin the whole specification, encouraging both breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding. In addition, within individual components, they provide a contextual focus for students’ practical and theoretical work.
This qualification will support students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music technology through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills. These include recording, technology-based composition, listening, analysing and producing. Students will be encouraged to engage with a wide range of music technology techniques and develop an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the use of music technology in the creation and production of music.
Course Details
Area of Study 1: Recording and production techniques for both corrective and creative purposes
In component 1, the focus of this Area of Study will be on the use of recording and mixing techniques to capture, edit and produce a recording. In component 2, the focus will be on the use of sound creation and manipulation techniques to create, edit and structure a technology-based composition. In component 3, the focus will be on the capture, arrangement of sounds and mixing and mastering techniques that have been used on a series of unfamiliar commercially available recordings and in component 4, the focus will be on use of sound creation and processing techniques to correct and mix a recording.
Area of Study 2: Principles of sound and audio technology
In component 3, the focus of this Area of Study will be the knowledge and understanding of the principles of sound and of audio technology in relation to unfamiliar commercially available recordings provided by Pearson in the exam. In component 4, the focus will be the knowledge and understanding of the principles of sound and of audio technology in relation to theoretical and practical contexts provided by Pearson in the exam.
Area of Study 3: The development of recording and production technology
In component 3, the focus of this Area of Study will be the knowledge and understanding of the history and development of recording and production technology from current digital technologies back to the mono, analogue recording technologies in the 1930s.
How will it be delivered and assessed?
The Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Music Technology consists of two externally-examined papers and two non-examined assessment components. Students must submit their non-examined assessment (NEA) and complete the examinations in May/June in the year of certification.
Component 1: Recording
Non-examined assessment: externally assessed
20% of the qualification
60 marks
Assessment overview:
One recording, chosen from a list of 10 songs provided by Pearson, consisting of a minimum of five compulsory instruments and two additional instruments, released on our website on 1st June in the calendar year preceding the year in which the qualification is to be awarded.
Component 2: Technology-based composition
Non-examined assessment: externally assessed
20% of the qualification
60 marks
Assessment overview:
You will create, edit, manipulate and structure sounds to produce a technology based composition
Component 3: Listening and analysing
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
25% of the qualification
75 marks
Assessment overview:
This paper comprises two sections: A and B and all questions are compulsory
You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of recording and production techniques and principles in the context of a series of unfamiliar commercial recordings supplied by Pearson.
Component 4: Producing and analysing
Written/practical examination: 2 hours 15 minutes (plus 10 minutes setting–up time)
35% of the qualification
105 marks
Assessment overview:
This paper comprises two sections: A and B and all questions are compulsory.
You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of editing, mixing and production techniques and apply these to unfamiliar materials provided by Pearson in the examination
Entry requirements
5 GCSE'S at a grade 4 and above including English and Maths.
Ideally, students should possess at least a grade 4 at GCSE Music, or equivalent, or if no previous GCSE experience in Music, a significant interest in Music Tech with ability to demonstrate this to HoD.
Your next steps...
Students can progress from this qualification to:
* music schools and university courses that relate to music technology and that will benefit from the skills acquired from this GCE
* training courses at the BBC or other similar organisations
* apply for jobs at record companies and music production companies that specialise in producing music for media, music for computer games and music for the moving image
* students may also wish to apply for places at institutions that specialise in the Performing Arts
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