A2 Music Technology Coursework & Exam 2017 – 18

You are required to produce a sequenced integrated realisation using one of the recordings listed below as your stimulus. You must include all vocals, instrumental parts and production features.

This is predominantly an aural task, and no score has been included. You may work from a score if you wish, but be aware that scores of rock and pop songs are often incomplete or inaccurate. (Read The Full Task 3A Instructions)

Stimuli:

• Stimuli 1 – Brick England (Jean-Michel Jarre & Pet Shop Boys) from the CD Electronica 2: The Heart of Noise, RCA – B01AA4CRK6
• Stimuli 2 – Heartbeats (The Knife) from the CD Deep Cuts, Brille – B000O5BP3W

Task 3A: Resources and Guides

Please note: These resources are for guidance only and will in no way violate the Edexcel rules regarding controlled conditions.

Make a recording of a piece of music of your own choice in a style relating to Area of Study 3: The Development of Technology-based Music.

You must record a piece of music that has been made available for general release, or an accepted rock, pop or jazz standard. It must not be an original student composition. (Read The Full Task 3B Instructions)

Choose ONE of the following briefs, and compose an original piece as instructed. The composition must contain at least SIX separate vocal/instrumental/sample based parts. (Read The Full Task 3C Instructions)

Task 3C: Resources and Guides

Here you will find a range of resources to help you complete this piece of coursework.

Please note: These resources are for guidance only and will in no way violate the Edexcel rules regarding controlled conditions.

COMPOSITION BRIEF 1 – The Last Job on Earth

ou have been commissioned to compose the music for this video. Your composition should reflect the action, emotions and pace of the film, and be timed to accurately sync with the scenes and images. You must use the movie file located on the Edexcel website and not any other version:

Download Project Movie File

To locate the movie file, copy and paste or type this link into the address bar on your internet browser.

You must not sample audio from any version of the movie.

Your composition must be THREE MINUTES long.

COMPOSITION BRIEF 2 – Brave New World Revisited

Create a composition using the extract taken from Brave New World Revisited by Aldous Huxley. The meaning of the text must be reflected in the music. Your composition may take the form of a song (which must include recorded vocals), or a piece of contemporary music using audio samples created from recorded extracts of the text. You may adapt or reorder the words.

Your composition must be THREE MINUTES long.

Download Lyrics

COMPOSITION BRIEF 3 – Ornithology

There are very few places in the world where you do not hear birds singing. They are part of our everyday soundtrack, often unnoticed by many, yet they produce a massive array of different sounds, melodies, rhythmic pulses and tones. There are many enthusiasts who record and catalogue birdsong from the British Isles and around the world.

Create an original composition that makes use of a minimum of SIX samples of birdsong.

Your composition must be THREE MINUTES long.

You may use one or more of the following themes:

• Feature different calls of a particular species
• Focus on the birds of a particular region
• Choose unusual, mysterious or dramatic calls to set the mood of your piece.

Below you will find a range of resources to help you complete the logbook. The logbook, declaration and all three pieces of coursework must arrive with the examiner no later than 15th May. (Download The Logbook)

Over the past few years we have been creating a complete set of resources to help you with your Unit 4 Listening and Analysing exam. Follow our complete guide or work through the resources and worksheets at your own pace.