Welcome to the Music Academy

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2 Welcome to the Music Academy The Music Academy at NPTC Group of Colleges Neath Campus offers a unique opportunity to its talented and committed young musicians who want to be inspired, challenged and encouraged in their aim to make the very most of their musical ability. There is also a programme of Master Classes and workshops by professional practitioners. In recent years, this has included Tommy Emmanuel, Frank Vignola, Iwan Llewelyn Jones, James Mainwaring and Guthrie Govan. Music at NPTC Group of Colleges is one of the most established subjects in the college and student success stories confirm that we offer you a special environment where your musical outlook can be nurtured and your potential fulfilled. Our Music Lecturers are professional musicians who combine active performing careers with helping the next generation of musicians. We have strong links with the Music Service who provide some of the visiting instrumental and vocal tuition for the majority of our students. Some of the individual tuition is catered for in house. The Music Academy students participate in a range of community events with some of our partner schools and other organisations, including the Neath Male Voice Choir. Each year, the Music Academy has run a foreign concert tour and other trips and takes part in the Music for Youth Regional and National Festivals as well as the Urdd Eisteddfod. For the BTEC, A Level and Degree courses, you will be invited to attend an audition. You should be able to perform to approximately GRADE 5 standard as a minimum for the Level 3 BTEC Music, A Level Music and Degree courses. Music Technology is a feature of the fulltime music courses and students can access our recording studios and industry standard equipment. We also offer a specialist tutor group for those students who display an interest and talent for studying music at conservatoire or university. This takes the form of a gifted and talented group specifically for students who display a particular talent in music. Full-time students studying at the NPTC Group of Colleges, Neath Port Talbot Campuses are eligible to apply to the Music Academy. Please contact: musicacademy@nptcgroup.ac.uk or telephone:

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4 Courses Offered... GCE AS & A Level in Music Examination Board: WJEC NEW FOR 2016 AS: 3 Units AS Unit 1: Performing [12% of qualification] Total duration of performance: 8-10 minutes Externally assessed by a visiting examiner Your performance must consist of a MINIMUM of 2 pieces, one of which must reflect the musical characteristics of ONE area of study. MINIMUM standard: Grade 5. AS Unit 2: Composing [12% of qualification] Total duration of compositions: 3-6 minutes Externally assessed by WJEC TWO compositions: 1. A piece of at least 1 minute duration which uses the techniques associated with the Western Classical Tradition and in response to a brief set by the WJEC. You will have a choice of 4 set briefs which are released during the 1st week of September. 2. A free composition of at least 2 minutes duration. AS Unit 3: Appraising [16% of qualification] Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes TWO areas of study: Area of study A: The Western Classical Tradition: The Symphony One set work: Haydn - Symphony No.103 in Eb, Drumroll, Movements 1 & 2. A choice of ONE area of study from: Area of Study B: Rock & Pop Area of Study C: Musical Theatre: Rodgers, Sondheim & Lloyd-Webber. Area of Study D: Jazz There are no set works in Areas of Study B, C & D.

5 A Level: (The previous units plus a further 3 Units) A2 Unit 4: Performing Option A - 22% of qualification A performance of minutes Minimum of 3 pieces OR Option B - 14% of qualification A performance of 7-11 minutes Minimum of 2 pieces Grade 6 minimum standard. A2 Unit 5: Composing Option A - 14% of qualification Compositions of 3-6 minutes in duration Two compositions: A piece of at least 1 minute duration which uses the techniques associated with the Western Classical Tradition and in response to a brief set by WJEC. You will have a choice of 4 set briefs, released during the first week of September. A free composition of at least 2 minutes duration Option B - 22% of qualification Compositions of 8-10 minutes duaration Three compositions: A piece of at least 1 minute duration which uses the techniques associated with the Western Classical Tradition and in response to a brief set by WJEC. You will have a choice of 4 set briefs, released during the first week of September. A free composition reflecting one different area of study of at least 2 minutes duration A free composition. A2 Unit 6: Appraising [24% of qualification] Two areas of study: 1. Area of Study E: The Symphony including one set work: Brahms Symphony No.1 in C minor, Movement Area of Study F: Post 1900 List A: Impressionism [includes set works] List B: American popular Songs of the 20s and 30s [includes set works] Lost C: Jazz Legends: Duke Ellington & Miles Davis N.B This is a draft summary and is subject to change by the examination board. All students studying for the AS/A Level in music will receive individual tuition on their chosen instrument/voice provided by a team of visiting specialist tutors. Students studying AS/A Level are expected to participate in at least one of the extracurricular activities provided by the department. Orchestra Funk/Swing band Chamber ensembles Vocal ensembles Choir There are also opportunities to enhance your theory skills in the weekly additional theory lessons. Contact details: carolyn.davies@nptcgroup.ac.uk

6 BTEC Extended National Diploma in Music Level 3 The Extended National Diploma in Music is a two-year full-time course at Level 3 (the same standard as 3 A Levels). This course can lead to a wide range of future careers in the music industry and also prepare you for higher level study at a College of Music or University. A keen interest in popular music (in its widest sense) is expected of all students and you will need to be able to perform on an at least one instrument or voice to a Grade 5 standard plus 5 GCSEs at grade C or above. You will have 16 hours of timetabled lectures per week, which means that there are a number of non-lecture timetable hours which you should use to keep up with your coursework. Units include: theory and harmony, session styles, music performance techniques, recording, working as a musical ensemble, the sound and music industry to name but a few. There are a wide range of possible careers which may be considered on successful completion of this course, or following a higher level qualification. These include performing, composing, arranging, session playing, record company work, publishing, recording, journalism, teaching and lecturing. Students have the opportunity to get involved with extracurricular activities offered within the music academy, such as the College Jazz Ensemble, College Function Band, Choir, Orchestra, Masterclasses and international trips. Contact: Christian Carpenter christian.carpenter@nptcgroup.ac.uk Foundation Degree / BA (Hons.) in Music (Performance & Production) in Partnership with University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Our new Foundation Degree in Music is a two-year full-time course at Level 4 and 5 (the same level as years 1 and 2 of all standard undergratuate courses). This course can lead students on to a third year of Higher Education studies where students may do a top-up year of study to achieve a BA in Music (Level 6). This means that at the end of two years students will achieve a Foundation Degree in Music, which can lead on to achievement of a full BA Hons. in Music through a total of three years study based at our Neath campus. The timetable consists of approximately hours of timetabled lectures per week, spread across five days, which means that there are a number of non-contact hours on campus which students should use to keep up with coursework. Each FD/BA Music student is also entitled to half hour per week of one to one specialist instrumental tuition. At least one module per academic year is delivered at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David Mount Pleasant Campus in Swansea. This will enable students to utilise some of their facilities and have the benefit of their staff s expertise as well as the staff at NPTC of Colleges. It will also enable students to acclimatise to the University environment for year 3 studies, which consist of more lectures delivered at this campus and by UWTSD staff.

7 What past students say about studying music at NPTC Group of Colleges There are a wide range of possible careers which may be considered upon successful completion of this FD/BA, or having successfully completed a subsequent Level 7 qualification. These include performing, composing, arranging, session playing, record company work, publishing, recording, music journalism, teaching, lecturing and management. Whilst studying at NPTC Group of Colleges, all students have the opportunity to get involved with extra-curricular activities. A number of these activities are delivered within the Performing Arts Department, such as the College Jazz Ensemble, Choir, Function Band, and Orchestra. Also, you will have the opportunity to access business expertise and facilities at Centerprise (our new enterprise centre) initially as part of the year 1 Music Business module, but also in terms of any individual business ideas/projects that students may have. If you have any further queries or would like to request more information please either come along to one of our open days (dates for which can be found at ac.uk under Key Dates ) or get in touch via the details below. Contact: Alun Roberts Alun.Roberts@nptcgroup.ac.uk The teachers are some of the best I have ever had, they pushed me to try my best and work hard to get what I want out of music. The teachers tried their best to make sure we had the best tuition possible by having great resources such as several rehearsal rooms with excellent equipment, a studio to record and masterclasses from the world s top musicians. Jordan Bala - Leeds College of Music Both the A level and BTEC music courses have opened doors for me to be able to study in Leeds College of Music and the skills gained from my time at NPTC Group have given me a strong foundation to build the rest of my education and future career in music on! Thomas Daniel - Leeds College of Music I can honestly say that my time at NPTC Group studying music was what sealed my decision to study Music further at university I gained some invaluable experience from all the opportunities on offer. The experiences gained through the music department definitely improved my musicality as a performer without a doubt. In addition to this, studying Music here confirmed to me what I want to do as a career become a Music teacher. It also provided me with friends I ll have for life the experiences in this department bring everyone so much closer together, and it was also the most fun I ve ever had within my education. Aime Golding - Cardiff University: Music Department

8 Studying Music at NPTC Group was undoubtedly the reason I had such a good experience while I was there. I studied both Music A Level and Music BTEC which both helped me further my skills in analysis, composition and performance. The variety of genres available to study also helped me to explore my own interests and find my own style of performing. The opportunities within the music department are unparalleled by any other subject, from performing in music festivals to performing abroad in places such as Paris. My experience has prompted me to go on to study music as a degree, and the friends I made from participating both in class and in the extra curricular activities have become some of my closest. Mollie Steers - Cardiff University, Music: Year 2 Studying music at NPTC Group provided me with many remarkable opportunities; performing on the Lion King stage at Disney Land, Paris being a major highlight. I also took part in competitions in Haverfordwest and Birmingham and played in a number of venues and theatre productions. Being part of an orchestra and a member of the college function band allowed me to gain experience in a theatrical environment and also pushed my confidence to where I was comfortable to perform alone. The course also introduced me to people of all ages who shared the same passion, I would recommend it to anyone. Samantha Davies I can honestly say that my two years at NPTC Group were the best years of my life so far and I truly believe that it was all down to A Level Music. College can be a difficult time for many young people but studying Music is a great way to make close, secure friendships that will last forever! This course enabled me to fully explore all aspects of music; Performance, Composition and Analysis/Theory. My personal preference is Performance and here I was offered a number of amazing opportunities to performance as a soloist, with a choir, with an orchestra and in a student band. All these amazing experiences helped mould me into the performer I am today. Even though Performance was my favourite part of the course I was able to enjoy the other parts just as much because of the encouragement and support that comes from the lecturers. If I could go back and do it all again I 100 per cent would and I would not change a thing. If I could give you any advice I would be; do music and throw yourself into it completely! You will only get out what you put in so give it everything you ve got, it is so worth it! But also make sure you enjoy it! Kirsty Harris - Bath Spa University: Music year 3 musicacademy@nptcgroup.ac.uk