BTEC Music Technology

Music Technology is a perfect choice for hard working students willing to develop their skills in music production and composition through practical coursework based assignments.

Are you:

• Keen to create and record music?
  
  
• Interested in a career in the sound, music, or entertainment industries?
  
  
• Interested in learning to use music technology to develop your ICT skills?

If yes then the A Level in Music Technology (Production) is for you! Where else can you experiment with recording equipment and state-of-the-art iMac computers to arrange, compose, perform and record music?

Recent Music Technology Recordings

Listen to the quality music recorded and produced by Music Technology in the last few years.

 

What is Music Technology?

Music Technology involves the use of electronic devices and computer software to facilitate playback, recording, composition, storage and performance. Pupils taking this course will have access to the new Music Technology suite and will use iMacs plus other recording equipment such as a mixing desk, microphones and amplifiers, to compose their own music and develop music production techniques.

If you cannot play an instrument, but can play the keyboard or you have good ICT skills then this course could be for you. Talk to Mr. Brown or Mrs. McDonagh if you are not sure if you meet the requirements.

Course Units - 3 in lower sixth/ 3 in upper sixth

You will study a variety of topics including:

• Music Production Technique
• Sequencing Systems and Techniques
• Audio Engineering Principles
• Developing your listening skills
• Composition

Pupils will be involved in recording sound in the studio. Pupils will be expected to take responsibility for the live sound for school concerts and productions to gain experience of mixing live sound. Pupils will produce their own CD of the recordings they have produced at AS and A2 level

At AS Mr. Brown will teach the practical side of the recording technology and Mrs. McDonagh will teach pupils listening and composition skills. At A2 Mr Brown will continue to teach the practical side of recording technology and will prepare pupils for the final units which requires pupils to work with recorded audio on the computer. Mrs McDonagh will teach pupils composition which requires pupils to compose a track to a given brief.

BTEC Music Technology Entry Requirements

This qualification requires pupils to have:

7 GCSEs A*-C—Including good listening skills, a grade in an instrument or voice OR an interview with the Music Technology staff.

Whilst a grade in an instrument is not required, the course involves computer-based music composition so therefore good ICT and a minimum of music keyboard skills are desirable.