Music

Title of qualification achieved at the end of the course

BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Music Practice (Pearson Edexcel)

What will you learn/How will you be taught?

The course has two internally-assessed components and one externally-assessed component (there is no written examination). You will learn to make your own music, how other people do this, and apply what you know to real life situations.

Component 1: Exploring Music Products

Through a series of workshops and practical tasks, you will create a portfolio exploring a variety of styles and genres of popular music (such as disco, punk, reggae, Motown, Britpop, RnB, rock), world music, music for film and games, western classical styles and blues.  Through these practical workshops, listening and theory elements will also be developed.  The aim of this component is to capitalise on, nurture and encourage your own musical interests.

Component 2: Music Skills Development

You will specialise in two different areas out of these three: Music Performance, Creating Original Music (song-writing/composing) and Music Production (using computer software to produce music).

Component 3: Responding to a Commercial Music Brief

This component will allow you to work to your strengths and interests and apply the skills that you have learned throughout your course in a practical way. You will focus on a particular area of the music industry that excites and appeals to you and respond to a commercial music brief as a composer, performer or producer.

You will need to develop Music Technology skills in order to help you produce your composition coursework. Music is considered to be one of the most employable subjects because of the range of skills covered, including self-management, communication and presentation, which are vital to any future course of study.

Why study this subject?

Music is what makes humans, human!  As an industry, music covers and includes a phenomenal amount of different jobs. This BTEC is successful as it appeals to a wide range of interests as some students have a passion in performing, others may prefer to learn how to become a composer/song-writer, whereas some will want to focus on using computer software to sequence and mix a track.

The BTEC Tech Award is an introduction to vocational learning. The qualification gives learners the opportunity to build skills that show an aptitude for further learning, both in the sector and more widely. There is no limit to progression options as the skills acquired are applicable to a range of post-16 study options.

There is a vast spectrum of careers within the music industry, but a snapshot includes; performer, composer/song-writer, record producer, manager, music therapist, music journalist/blogger, live sound technician, promoter, concert manager, studio manager, radio presenter, music teacher, instrumental technician - and more.