Music

Year 10 and 11– NCFE Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology

Why choose walsall studio school?

We are delighted to offer a new course in our new building with new, industry standard resources. Our new Technical Award in Music Technology is for creative musicians at the start of their professional journey. If you have an interest in learning how to produce music, record music, and study the theory behind how music and sound works, then this is the course for you. Our aim is to equip you with the skills, knowledge and understanding to progress to one of our level 3 courses at Studio Sixth.

Students also receive time within curriculum hours to work on Studio+ activities. Alongside our core Music Technology course, we provide plenty of opportunity for aspiring musicians to develop their performance skills as part of our Studio+ initiative.  We regularly run our own live concerts under the brand name ‘Debut’, where our live-streamed shows now boast over 10,000 YouTube views. Since September 2022, students have had access to our brand-new rehearsal spaces, consisting of a bigger live room with a full band set up and smaller rehearsal rooms with brand new Yamaha Clavinova pianos and a Roland electric drum kit. Students also have access to visiting music tutors for one-to-one instrumental lessons.

What will I learn?

Over the two years you will:

Learn about the place of music technology within the music business
Use Logic Pro (professional music software) to produce your own music
Learn how music is composed through the study of musical elements
Use music theory and standard notation
Study different musical styles and how they use technology
Use recording equipment to capture sound and create multitrack audio recordings
Manipulate sound and use sound creation in different forms of media

You will study and develop your skills, knowledge and understanding in the above areas across year 10 and 11, before taking your final exams in year 11.

How will I study?

You will take part in taught sessions and then you will apply your knowledge and skills to produce music and sound creation projects. You will also take formal written exams to test your knowledge and understanding.

How will I be assessed?

The qualification has 2 final exams externally set and marked by NCFE:

Practical based assessment on Logic Pro (60% of final grade)
Written examined assessment (40% of final grade)

Studio +

Next Steps/ Prospects

After studying our level 2 course, you will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to progress to one of our level 3 courses at Studio Sixth. Popular career progressions to the music indsutry include:

Composer for Media, TV and Film
Producer
Songwriter
Teacher
Music supervisor
Session musician
Recording artist
Music journalist
Music therapist
Musicologist

Alongside Music...

Core Studies

As well as studying the specialist subject you’re passionate about, it’s a legal requirement for all Key Stage 4 students to follow the National Curriculum.This means it’s mandatory that you also study:

Additional Option Subjects

Alongside a chosen pathway subject and Core Studies, students must also choose two more Option Subjects to equip them with a range of knowledge and skills.

Compulsory Studies