Music
Who doesn’t love music?! Both in and beyond the classroom, Monkton offers an incredible range of opportunities to participate in, and appreciate all aspects of music. From performing Ghanaian drumming to analysing synth waveforms, from singing evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral to composing orchestral film soundtracks, there’s a place at Monkton for all music, genres, styles and abilities.
Our programme of study, whether in lessons or rehearsals, is packed with experiences and opportunities: chances to build skills; to collaborate; to create, perform and appreciate; to understand the wider world. Such ‘soft skills’ are becoming increasingly central to education in the 21st century, and Music is the perfect subject to offer help develop and hone these.
You can listen to a variety of our recorded pieces A-Level and GCSE pieces on our Soundcloud account.
GCSE
GCSE music develops a vast array of skills: written, analytical, practical, social/personal symbiotic and performative. Above all, the course looks to develop your creativity and your self-expression through performing and composing and our department puts a particular emphasis on the development of these skills through our curriculum planning and teaching strategies.
What will I learn at GCSE?
You will develop your composition skills and your technology skills as you make use of Sibelius and Logic production software in order to produce your work. You will also develop your analytical skills when listening to and appraising different styles of music. Finally, you will develop as both a solo performer on your individual instrument and you will develop your ensemble skills through working with other musicians in small groups.
How is the course structured?
The listening and analysis part of the course is based around four key areas of study:
Musical Forms and Devices, Music for Ensemble, Film Music, Popular Music
We will cover all four areas over the course of the two years and your compositions and performances will be linked to these areas.
How is the course examined?
- Composition forms 30% of the total mark. Throughout thecourse, you will create two compositions: one based on a specific brief, the other based on a brief of your own choice
- Performance forms another 30% of the total mark. Here, you will produce one solo and one ensemble performance over the course of two years.
- At the end of the second year, you will sit a 75 minute listening paper which constitutes 40% of the total marks It includes in-depth questions related to set works studied during the course and a series of unfamiliar pieces that you will be required to appraise
Music A Level
Studying Music at A level builds valuable skills like discipline, creativity, and problem-solving. You learn to analyse, perform, and appreciate music in depth, developing confidence and teamwork skills that are useful in many careers. The course is an exceptionally broad one, covering many contrasting styles, from Bach to Kate Bush.
Prerequisites
It is desirable but not essential to have taken Music at GCSE, as much of the background material needed for A Level would have been studied at this stage. A reasonable proficiency on an instrument is needed, with a standard equivalent to grade 6, and it will also be advantageous, although not absolutely necessary, to have passed the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam.
What will I learn?
You will learn how to analyse music using music theory and you will also learn how to place music within a social, aesthetic and historical context. On the performing front, you will develop your skills here, mostly through your continuing one-to-one instrumental lessons. On the composition front, you will develop your creativity of approach and you will learn how to apply more advanced theoretical concepts to your work.
How is the course structured?
60% of the course consists of coursework: Performance is 30%, Composition is another 30%
The final 40% is assessed through an exam that is sat at the end of the course, testing your analytical abilities with reference to the set works that we study throughout the course.
How is the course examined?
The final paper, which comprises 40% of the course has two sections to it:
Section A: small listening tests based on the set works that we study throughout the course
Section B: an unfamiliar music essay followed by a long-form analytical essay based on one of our set works
What could I do next?
A level Music opens the door to many options. Of course, you’d be able to pursue a traditional music or technical musical qualification at university, as well as a performance degree at conservatoire but you’d also be able to pursue something in the wider creative arts. Our music students have also gone on to pursue courses in Medicine, Law, Graphic design, Engineering, Computer science and many other fields. Music is looked on very favourably by institutions looking to find candidates who really stand out in an interesting way.
Music Technology BTEC
BTEC Music Technology is heavily practical and largely mimics the syllabi used at Higher Education institutions. The work you will complete is all project based, replicating real-world scenarios within the context of mixing, mastering, sampling, and composing. Studying this subject sets you up very well for a future career in any of these disciplines.
What will I learn?
You will learn how to use tools to mix and master your work and you will also learn how to use synthesis and sampling tools in order to create meaningful, well-structured compositions. Furthermore, you will learn how to present your learning in the form of blogs and vlogs, offering clear guidance and advice to your target audience.
How is the course structured?
Students take 5 units of work over the course of two years.
There are two mandatory units:
• DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) production
• Music and Sound for Media
In addition to the above, students choose an additional three units from the list below in order to complete the Extended Certificate qualification.
• Creative synthesis and sampling
• Remixing and Reworking
• Mixing and Mastering Techniques
• Commercial Music Production
How is the course examined?
The entire course is project-based and there is no final exam. Students are required to meet various deadlines throughout both years of the course and these deadlines are positioned ina way that allows sufficient time for planning and preparation. Three out of five of the units mentioned above are usually assessed externally in order to verify the internal mark awarded by your teachers.
What could I do next?
After completing the BTEC Extended Certificate in Music Production, students can progress to university to study degrees like Music Technology, Sound Engineering, or Audio Production. The qualification also opens up entry-level roles like studio assistant, podcast editor, or junior sound technician, and can support freelance work in music production. It’s also a strong foundation for combining music skills with areas like gaming, content creation, or film and TV sound design.