Music

GCSE

GCSE Music (CIE) complements all music-making through the sharpening of listening skills, enhancement of musical awareness and gradual increase of musical knowledge through the study of great musical masterpieces, including one set work. You can broaden your general musicianship through writing your own music, with influences coming from the rich heritage of the West as well as from other cultures around the world. Credit can be gained for performing as an individual and in ensemble.

AS and A level

The study of music at a more advanced level follows on naturally from the GCSE course. At both AS and A2 (AQA) the study of set works provides opportunities to get under the skin of a Western masterpiece; the development of musical trends can be better understood through looking at specified genres, such as Musicals at AS and Chamber Music at A2. Performance is treated as coursework (40% at AS; 30% at A2) while composition is carried out by controlled assessment (30% at AS; 30% at A2). 

After St Paul’s

Music is a vocational subject, a steady trail of Paulines choosing to study it at university or at conservatoires. Many have gone on to carve successful careers either as performers or in academic music.

Robert Donington and Francis Baines were leading 20^th century musicologists, as was Stanley Sadie (who died more recently, in 2005), editor of the New Grove Dictionary of Music.

Old Paulines appear frequently in the performing world. Here are a few:

• Classical: Adrian Bradbury, John Bradbury, Adrian Butterfield, Martin Isepp, Robert Max, Simon Mulligan, John Myerscough, Henry Roche, Matthew Rowe, Robin Ticciati, Professor Stephen Walsh, Richard Watkins, Benjamin Zander, Robin Zebaida.

• Jazz: Chris Barber, Simon Mulligan, Matthew Skeaping, Frank Walden.

• Folk, Pop and Rock: Charlie and Dougie Fink, Tom Hobden; Will Knox, Winston Marshall, Charlie Mole, Alex Newberry, Norton York.