The main aims of our department are:
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
GCSE Music
GCSE Music at William Ellis is extremely popular. Currently, we have 45 students studying Music in Year 10 and Year 11. Exam results are also outstanding:
All resources and homework can be found at the Music Department GCSE Music Website, which can be found here:
Key Stage 4 – GCSE Specification AQA Music
Year 10
Year 11
Assessment –
Listening Exam (40%) (1 hour 30 mins)
Section A: Questions linked to unheard works
Section B: Questions linked to set works
Performing (30%) (minimum Grade 3 standard expected) – internally marked and externally moderated.
1 ensemble piece
1 solo piece
Composing (30%) - internally marked and externally moderated.
1 composition in response to a brief
1 free composition
Further Information
All students taking GCSE Music receive a 50% discount for individual instrumental lessons. Well equipped practice rooms are available at lunchtimes and instrumental teachers run a range of ensembles in which GCSE students are expected to take part. More information about extra-curricular provision can be found here.
William Ellis has run the popular Music Technology A Level as part of the LaSWAP 6th Form for almost 20 years. The course is led by Mr Forbat, Head of Music, alongside Thor House a highly-regarded industry professional who also runs the website Music Tech Guru, providing Music Technology resources for students across the country.
FACILITIES
Our course is run from our brand new music facilities, completed in 2019 which contains a 25-user mac-suite and an industry-standard recording studio fitted with £10,000 of equipment provided by the Parents' Association.
To listen to some examples of our most recent student recordings, click here.
Music technology is an exception at LaSWAP, in that the AS and A Level courses are taught concurrently. This means you and choose either the 1 Year AS or 2-year A-Level course.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
As part of the Camden Creatives pathway at LaSWAP, we consider applications from all students who have shown high levels of engagement with Music and Music Technology during their time school. Whilst we take into account your GCSE grades (many students are on the 3 A-Levels pathway), students can combine Music Technology with other vocational courses such as Performing Arts, if they show a particular flare for Music Technology.
Component 1 (20%) Recording – students use the recording studio to record and mix a 2 minute track from a list of ten artists (e.g. All of Me, John Legend)
Component 2 (20%) Technology-based Composition – compose a 2 1/2 minute long piece of music in any style, using synthesizers and audio excerpts provided by the exam board.
Component 3 (25%) Listening – students listen to unfamiliar commercial recordings, assessing knowledge of the history of music production from 1950s until present day with emphasis upon principles of music technology.
Component 4 (35%) Producing and Analysing – students are given a selection of audio and midi tracks to edit and mix on music software.
Component 1 (20%) Recording
Students develop their mixing skills so as to record a longer track – 3 minutes.
Component 2 (20%) Technology-based Composition
Students develop their composing and technology skills so as compose a longer (3 minute) piece of music technology based on a more demanding brief set by the exam board e.g. War or Outer Space.
Component 3 (25%) Listening
Students broaden their listening skills with a greater range of unfamiliar commercial recordings, assessing knowledge of the history of music production from the 1950s until present day, with emphasis upon principles of music technology.
Component 4 (35%) Producing and Analysing
Students develop their skills of editing and mixing on music software for a selection of audio and midi tracks. The theory and physics of sound are studied so as to develop this understanding. Note that this component includes some basic numeracy.