24 Performing Arts A-level Programs

This is an ideal course for those who enjoy reading plays, performing and exploring ideas. You may or may not have studied GCSE Drama or BTEC Performing Arts but essentially you will be comfortable with: reading and performing, discussing and working with others in a creative team, watching and discussing play performances and writing.

This course is for you if you enjoy watching a wide variety of films and learning about the art and craft of film making.

What do you enjoy? Composing, performing? Maybe you are interested in the more analytical side of music – how styles have developed, how a piece of music is constructed? Whichever is your preference, A Level Music has something for you as the course essentially comprises these three elements. Your performing and composing will be worth 60%, with an analysis paper which counts for 40%.

Whether you’re a budding rock star or classical instrumentalist, A-Level Music will develop your skills in performing, composing and analysing the medium you love.

A practical, engaging and creative course where you will examine the work of drama practitioners, explore a range of drama as a practical art form, and work independently to create your own performances. You will be given a thorough grounding on the basics of performing and experience the innovative styles of playwrights, directors, actors, and companies.

The course involves performing, composing, listening to and analysing music. You will improve your skills as a performer and composer studying both ‘classical’ and ‘popular’ styles of music. You will listen to and analyse a wide variety of music, developing a more informed appreciation of how, and why, it was written. Examples of the music you will study: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Abba, Stevie Wonder, Oasis, Metallica, Haydn, Mozart, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Debussy and Stravinsky.

By studying the Music A level course, you will develop a greater understanding of how music works. You will study its creation (composing), re-creation (performing), perception (listening skills) and appreciation (knowledge and understanding). You will learn to analyse it, to understand how notes are structured into chords and into melodies, and chords and melodies into structures spanning minutes and even hours. In so doing, you will also discover how music intersects with other subjects, such as physics, geography, history and art.

This course is ideal for learners who enjoy seeing musicals and discussing performance work, have a love for Musical Theatre and enjoy singing, dancing and acting. It is suitable for students who enjoy reflecting on performance work and developing skills as a performer. This qualification is valued by many employers recruiting for people-orientated careers. This course enables learners to build on many transferable skills including teamwork, independence and communication skills, as well as building your confidence levels, all of which are valued by employers.

A Level Music offers students an opportunity to learn and develop an understanding of music history, composition and performance. The new A- level aims to equip pupils with the necessary tools to study music at university level or potentially gain a job in the music industry. The new AS level provides the student with a solid understanding of the basic tenants of performance, composition and music history.

For those with proficiency on an instrument as well as openness to a number of styles, Music A level provides an excellent vehicle for the expansion and development of a musical life. Results in recent years have been outstanding and many pupils have taken the subject as part of an application profile to Russell Group and Oxbridge universities.

We follow the AQA specification at Bilborough Sixth Form College. You’ll be taught in a dedicated dance studio, with a sprung floor, mirrored walls, and portable sound and lighting equipment. Practical exams take place in our wonderfully equipped Theatre. It is desirable, but not essential, that you have dance experience – and you must show enthusiasm, passion and a willingness to experiment with different styles.

This course is ideal for learners who are passionate about music! Whether that may be playing an instrument or singing, if you have a love for the culture of music in its broadest sense then this course is for you. The course is designed to develop students’ existing performance and skills to the next level and fully prepare the student for a degree in music, a future in the music industry, or just for the enjoyment of studying music in more depth.

Music is at the heart of Kent College and our splendid music department offers a broad range of opportunity to pupils of all ages and abilities. Working within a positive and vibrant environment, our aim is for music to be both fun and productive, ensuring that pupils perform and progress to the best of their abilities.

The College has chosen the AQA Music A Level Music programme as it follows on seamlessly from the AQA GCSE course we offer. It is also possible to take AS Level Music and is a perfect accompaniment to other A Level Subjects. The AS Level can be taken on its own, but can then be developed into the full A Level Music by a further year at the College, as both the AS and A Level courses follow the same curriculum.

A Level Dance is an exciting, challenging course that explores theory through the practical application of knowledge. It is totally different from any private dance tuition you may have experienced and celebrates many different styles, from ballet to jazz. Everyone brings something different to the course and you will grow in confidence as you actively develop your own choreographic voice within a collaborative, supportive environment.