In partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music & the Love Music Trust
This A-Level course is aimed at musically-gifted students of Grade 7/8 standard who are currently in year 11 and aiming towards a future in which music plays a significant part.
Based at West Kirby Grammar School and open to young musicians and vocalists from all over Wirral, Merseyside and Cheshire, the focus of the course is to facilitate the progression from A-Level to university or conservatoire.
The Course
The course enables students to take part in a wide variety of performing opportunities, with regular chamber music sessions forming part of their timetable alongside a range of School-based and external performances.
Participants work with high calibre staff and receive top-up lessons from tutors at Manchester’s world-renowned Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM).
The course itself covers a wide range of musical skills, both academic and practical, and includes the compulsory A-Level in Music and, in some cases, the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (Dip. ABRSM).
Music A-Level (AQA)
The academic course includes:
•Performance
•Free composition
•Compositional Techniques in a range of prescribed styles
•Appraising Music
•Listening skills
Performance and composition are non-examined assessment, recorded and sent to the board for marking. The appraising paper covers knowledge and understanding of musical elements learnt through the study of specified musical areas and listening skills.
Timetable
|
A-Level Music (AQA) |
Hours per week |
|
Academic Studies |
5 lessons |
|
WSMC Additional timetabled hours |
|
|
Chamber Music |
2 lessons |
|
Aural |
1 lesson |
|
Keyboard Harmony |
1 lesson |
|
CSMC Choir |
1 lesson |
|
Total number of timetabled sessions |
10 (the equivalent time of two A levels) |
Students on this course will also have access to orchestras with frequent sectional rehearsals, choirs (Chamber, Vox and Karaoke), chamber ensembles (wind band, brass band, string quartet, string ensemble), pit bands, jazz ensembles (quartet and larger group ensemble), Production Band (performs covers and creates recordings) and collaborative performance projects. Tours to Europe for the Concert Band are also a regular occurrence.
In addition to A-Level music, all WKGS students generally take an additional two subjects.
Entrance Requirements
All applicants are invited to attend for interview and audition. Grade 7/8 standard is expected on the First Study instrument.
Audition Requirements
Auditions will be carried out by teachers on the course.
First Study | Performance of TWO contrasting pieces (Grade 7/8 standard)
Applicants will be accompanied by our official accompanist and there will be a short rehearsal immediately before the audition
Quick study piece (i.e. performance of one short piece which is prepared during the 15 minutes before the audition)
Second Study | Performance of ONE piece
Candidates should not include unaccompanied pieces in the prepared programme, which should not exceed 12 minutes.
• First study sight-reading
• Interview on musical interests and career aspirations
Applicants will additionally need to fulfil West Kirby Grammar School’s entrance requirements for A-Level courses.
Selection is based on:
• Performing potential
• Commitment to the Wirral Specialist Music Course
• Genuine interest in a career involving music