Music Technology A Level

As you won’t be able to come into College for your Music Technology audition this year, we would like you to work on your audition materials at home and then send them to us as your ‘Explore your Subject’ tasks for Music Technology A Level.

Please make sure you label any files you submit with your full name in the file title via the folder link below.

Music Tech

Please email the course leader for Music Technology A Level nick.nekanda-trepka@reigate.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Task 1: Audition Performance Video

An essential skill in this subject is the ability to perform accurately, musically and with confidence.

Please video yourself performing a short piece or excerpt that best demonstrates your performance skills on your first instrument. This should be no more than 1 minute in length.

You should include a spoken introduction where you introduce yourself by name and give the name of the piece you will play.

It is recommended that your video is no higher than 720p (resolution).

Task 2: Biography

Please complete the following biography by copying the following headings into a Word document and adding your responses below each heading, being concise wherever possible.

Please submit your response as a Word document, along with your video audition via the folder link above.

If you don’t have access to Word, please send an email to nick.nekanda-trepka@reigate.ac.uk

1. Full Name
2. Name the notated tune shown above and describe any problems you see in the notation.
   
   Listen to the Music Tech Audition Audio MP3.
   
3. Audio question 1: Describe the relationship between these two chords.
4. Audio question 2: Listen carefully and describe any differences you hear between these two sounds.
5. What instrument(s) do you play, for how long, and what grades have you achieved?
6. What music experience do you have, e.g. performing in a band, writing/recording your own music?
7. What excites you about studying the technology of music?
8. What skills do you hope to learn or develop during the Music Technology course?
9. What would be your dream job, musical or otherwise?

Task 3: Optional Recording

Finally, if you have already had experience of recording and producing your own music, you are invited to submit one MP3 or WAV file of your work via the folder link above. Note that this is not a requirement for successful application, but may help to substantiate any experience you mention in your bio.

Starting the Music Technology A Level course with some basic tech-based composition and recording skills will give you a great start.

Some of you may already have music software on your devices and computers (GarageBand for example is included for free with Apple devices) but there is other free software you can access too – see the suggested list below.

For your Get Going task I would like you to compose a short piece of music or song in any style, using software you have already, or using one of the recommended apps below.  

This unexpected, exam-free time you have, gives you the perfect opportunity to find out what’s available and start experimenting with it. 

Your composition should be:  

• In A minor  

• At 100bpm  

• Include synthesised elements / drum sounds programmed within the software  

• Include an audio recording of your instrument using the built-in mic on your laptop or phone

Please submit an MP3 or WAV file of your work using this link.

You should name your file, as before, with your full name.

Recommended free software:  

• FOR iOS/ANDROID: BandLab is a fantastic music production app with onboard synths, recording and mixing capabilities. Download from your usual app store.  

• FOR MAC/PC: Studio One 4 Prime is intuitive, powerful, and has similarities to Logic Pro X which we use on the course.  

• Download here: https://shop.presonus.com/Studio-One-4-Prime  
• Tutorial video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEjolf59TDA