Advanced Higher Music

Northfield Academy

This course is composed of the following components:

Performing

• Candidates are expected to meet the following criteria:
• Perform on 2 instruments or 1 instrument and voice
• Perform a minimum of 2 pieces per instrument/voice
• Perform for 18 minutes with a minimum of 6 minutes on each instrument
• Perform pieces of a minimum of Grade 5 standard

Understanding Music

Candidates will learn about a range of musical styles (including Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century) and composition techniques and are required to:

• identify level-specific concepts through listening to excerpts of music
• demonstrate an understanding of music literacy

Composing & Analysing Music

The assignment allows candidates to explore and develop musical ideas to create music and apply their knowledge of music through analysis in 3 parts:

• Composing or arranging one piece of music.
• Reviewing the creative process of their composition or arrangement.
• Analyse a chosen piece of music.

The Course assessment is externally assessed and composed of the following three components:

• Performing (50%) — Performance exams take place around May and are assessed by an external visiting examiner.
• Understanding Music (35%) — A listening paper will be completed under exam conditions, testing their knowledge and analysis of music. The exam paper lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and is marked out of 40. This exam will take place during the SQA exam diet.
• Composing & Analysing Music (15%) — An original composition/arrangement, review for this composition and analysis of a chosen piece will be submitted to the SQA for assessment. Internal school deadlines vary each year, however this is usually before the Easter holidays.

SQA Course Specification