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Music Technology A Level

close up of music tech equipment
Getting Ahead

Music Technology A Level at Alton Campus

A Level Music Technology  is a two year academic course that covers theoretical and practical course elements as well as stylistic, production, historical and aspects of Science and Maths that underpin the recording and production process.

The aim of these tasks/reading is to prepare you for the scope of the course and stimulate your own interest.

students working with music tech equipment

The course is structured as below:

Content/Coursework
1. Multi Track Recording You are to record a band/artist from a list of artists determined by your teacher up to 3-3.5 mins with at least 8 tracks.
2. Technology Based Composition Create a composition in a DAW (Logic X) using your creativity sampling, synthesis, programming, editing & mixing based on stimuli from Edexcel.
3. Logbook To be compiled weekly as a guide and submitted to the external examiner at the end.

 

Areas of Study
1. Recording and production techniques for both corrective and creative purposes.
2. Principles of sound & audio technology.
3. The development of recording and production technology.

 

Units
1. Recording
2. Technology Based Composition
3. Listening & Analysing
4. Producing & Analysing

The following activities are designed to provide you with some grounding for the course; the books and resources are recommended for purchase if possible.

If you have access to a digital audio workstation such as Logic Pro or Garage Band or FL Studio/Cubase/Reason/Pro Tools etc then you will be able to complete the composition task below. If not, try to record this on your instrument/voice or loops etc on your phone.

Listening

  • Listen to the recommended tracks (below) so you have a stylistic overview of tracks from the 1920s to the current era. As you listen to these tracks choose two tracks (one from each section – A & B below) and:
    • Start to consider how these have been produced in terms of recording and mixing and write a short analysis of how you think they have achieved this. You can accomplish this by listening out for all the parts (vocals & instruments), listening for effects, as well as the relative balance & panning (L/R) between tracks as well as the overall loudness.
  • Books you can use for this activity:
    • A Level Music Technology Study Guide, Tim Hallas, Rhinegold Education
    • The History of Music Production, R J Burgess, Oxford University Press

Section A

  • Robert Johnson – Crossroad
  • The Tornados – Telstar
  • Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
  • Beatles – A Day In The Life
  • Can – Vitamin C

Section B

  • Daft Punk – Around the World
  • Motorhead – Ace of Spades
  • Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
  • Weeknd – Blinding Lights
  • Killers – Mr Brightside

 

 

Composition/Producing

  • Create a one minute (can be more) track that either: (choose one)
    • (a) is used as part of a soundtrack for a short animation/film/video etc or extract thereof which may include music (you can choose an animation/gameplay extract etc or any suitable visual media), sound effects, textures, samples, ambient sounds etc.
    • (b) write a short one minute song about the current situation in terms of restricted movement/isolation at home. You can use any instruments as well as lyrics, synths, drums etc.
    • (c) or create an experimental piece of Music about a theme of your choice eg. the news/social interaction/the internet. Try to use some original sounds you may have recorded or created in a key you may not have used before.
  • Books you can use for this activity:
    • Logic Pro X: Audio & Music Production, Mark Cousins & Russ Hepworth-Sawyer – complete functional guide
  • Other resources you can use for this activity:
*This is a representation of your learning space and may not be the exact room you will be using

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