Music

Why study Music?

Music provides candidates with broad practical experience of performing, creating and understanding music. The courses enable candidates to work independently or in collaboration with others, and can help them to take responsibility for their own learning.

Why study Music Technology?

Music Technology is a practical and experiential course with a focus on capturing and manipulating audio, and 20th and 21st century music. There is scope for personalisation and choice through the contexts for learning.

Performing on two Instruments

Young people will continue to develop their skills on their chosen instruments. Through regular practice they will build a repertoire of pieces on each instrument, which will be recorded and internally assessed. Young people will reflect on their progress to develop their skills over the course of the year. In addition, National 4 pupils will complete an Added Value Unit to perform a programme of music in a solo setting and/or as part of a group.

Creating

Young people will experiment with compositional methods and music concepts in creating their own music. Learners will reflect on their own creative choices and decisions, and develop a basic understanding of how musicians develop their ideas and create their music.

Understanding Music

Young people will be able to identify level-specific music concepts in music excerpts. They will identify the distinctive features of music styles and demonstrate evidence of their understanding of simple music signs, symbols and terms.

For further details – https://www.npfs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nutshells_music_N4_E.pdf

Performing on two instruments

Young people will continue to develop their skills on their chosen instruments. Through regular practice they will build a repertoire of pieces on each instrument, which will be examined externally by SQA in March. This performance must be eight minutes in length, split between their two instruments. This will be worth 50% of the overall examination.

Creating

Young people will develop creative skills on their instrument or use technology, such as Sibelius or Garageband, to help create their own composition. A programme note is required to describe the significant decisions made, the processes used and their evaluation of their piece. This is externally marked by SQA and is worth 15% of the overall exam.

Understanding Music

Young people will continue to develop their analysis skills to understand different genres of music, as well as being able to identify and describe key features in the music. This will culminate in an external listening paper in May, which is worth 35% of the overall exam.

For further details – https://www.npfs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nutshells_music_N5_E.pdf

Assignments

Pupils will choose two projects from a number of contexts; radio broadcast, audio book, computer gaming, sound foley or multitrack recording. In each project pupils will use their sound engineering skills to capture audio, mix and enhance their chosen project. A diary/log is required to detail the process. Together this is worth 70% of the overall course.

Written Paper

A listening paper will test pupils on their general knowledge of popular music from the early 1900’s to the present day. As well as this, they will learn about the technological developments of the 20th century and the impact they had on the music industry. They will also learn and be tested on their ability to identify sounds that have been enhanced or changed using music technology. This paper is worth 30% of the overall course.

Performing on two instruments

Young people will continue to develop their skills on their chosen instruments. Through regular practice they will build a repertoire of pieces on each instrument, which will be examined externally by SQA in March. This performance must be twelve minutes in length, split between their two instruments. This performance is 50% of the overall examination.

Creating

Young people will develop creative skills on their instrument or use technology, such as Sibelius or Garageband, to help create their own composition. A programme note is required to describe the significant decisions made, the processes used and their evaluation of their piece. This is externally marked by SQA and is worth 15% of the overall exam.

Understanding Music

Young people will continue to develop their analysis skills to understand different genres of music, as well as being able to identify and describe key features in the music. This will culminate in an external listening paper in May, which is worth 35% of the overall exam.

For further details – https://www.npfs.org.uk/downloads/higher-music/

Assignments

Pupils are required to write one project. In their chosen project pupils will use their sound engineering skills to capture and enhance their chosen sounds. A diary/log is required to detail the process. Together this is worth 70% of the overall course.

Written Paper

A listening paper will test pupils on their general knowledge and understanding of 20th and 21st century genres of music, and an understanding of how music technology has influenced, and been influenced by, developments in 20th and 21st century musical key innovators. They will develop an understanding of aspects of the music industry, including an understanding of the implications of, and the need to protect, intellectual property rights. This exam is worth 30% of the overall total of the exam.

Performing on two instruments

Young people will continue to develop their skills on their chosen instruments. Through regular practice they will build a repertoire of pieces on each instrument, which will be examined externally by SQA in March. This performance must be eighteen minutes in length, split between their two instruments. This performance is 50% of the overall examination.

Creating

Young people will develop creative skills on their instrument or use technology, such as Sibelius or GarageBand, to help create their own composition. A programme note is required to describe the significant decisions made, the processes used and their evaluation of their piece. This is externally marked by SQA. In addition, learners will be asked to analyse two pieces/movements of music and describe the social and cultural impact on their chosen extracts. Together this is worth 15% of the overall exam.

Understanding Music

Young people will continue to develop their analysis skills to understand different genres of music, as well as being able to identify and describe key features in the music. This will culminate in an external listening paper in May, which is worth 35% of the overall exam.

For further details – https://www.planitplus.net/Nationals/View/221

This course is for students that want to further develop practical skills on one instrument/voice as well as developing leadership skills.

Learners have a number of options including helping a group of younger pupils or assisting in a Music class.

The qualification carries the same SCQF points as a Higher. There is no final exam, but young people need to provide a recording of their performance and a folio of supporting written work.