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Original poster

Music A level

28 replies

BertrandRussell · 16/05/2018 11:06

My year 12 ds does loads of music-he's in a band that gets regular paid gigs, he sells music online, has written music for school and youth theatre productions and has been learning the guitar since he was 6. He has chosen never to take any exams and did not do GCSE music. He is currently staring to put together a portfolio because he has realised, a bit late in the day. 5)-5 there are music related further education courses that interest him. Recently he was "doing some music" at school and the Head of music heard him, and asked him about his background-and has now suggested that he should have a go at doing A level music in a year. He has offered to teach him the necessary theory in free periods and after school. Ds is very keen-but it seems to me to be a ridiculously difficult thing to do. Is there anyone here who could advise? Is this sensible or stupid?

OP posts:
gillybeanz · 16/05/2018 12:16

Bert

I'd say let him go for it, but you know I'd say that. Grin
The fact you say it's a musicy place, obviously means the HOM was sincere about your ds talents.
I mean it's obviously not the school trying to drum up business (no pun intended)
If your ds wants to go for it, encourage him, it maybe what he decides to do for a living.
Have you looked at the content of the syllabus, I'm told they vary, but haven't compared any myself.

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 16/05/2018 12:11

Thank you! Yes he is keen, and I do trust the school- it's a very musicy place. I suppose I'm bothered that he might be so keen it distracts from his other A levels, particularly as I'm assuming it'll be very difficult to catch up. But I suppose I have to trust him too!

OP posts:
Floottoot · 16/05/2018 11:50

I'm a musician, as you can probably tell from my user name.
My first thought is "what has he got to lose?" The fact that he's keen and has a teacher who is keen to teach him means he's half way there already.
I'm not up with the current A level syllabus (in my day, you could take music and music practical as 2 separate A levels, which I did), but put your faith in the fact that the head of Music knows what he's doing and let him go for it. At the very least, he will have a year of music education he wouldn't otherwise have got, which can only be a good thing.
Good luck to him!