chickenanne Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I know: choosing just 3 or 4 immediately after GCSE is kind of limiting. Even a really good GCSE only takes you to a fairly basic level (sorry!!) - it seems daft that you can then specialise in only numerate or only literate subjects at A level. Some of my colleagues have terrible written English, the majority of whom have PhD or other post-graduate degree: becuase they did all science/maths A levels and a science-y degree they got away with a s"Ooops, word censored!"ed pass at GCSE and never had to do any written subjects since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Some of my colleagues have terrible written English, the majority of whom have PhD or other post-graduate degree: becuase they did all science/maths A levels and a science-y degree they got away with a s"Ooops, word censored!"ed pass at GCSE and never had to do any written subjects since. Not all of us science types s"Ooops, word censored!"ed English you know, aLthough I have to say I hate writing essays, whereas my OH and two boys are all into humanities subjects big time. I and you may ahve noticd I hate proooof reading ona pc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I know, I'm not suggesting that all who do science can't read/write properly, nor that all who do only language-based subjects can't add up... I do think it's very unfortunate that people can avoid ALL numerate subjects or ALL literate subjects from the age of 15-16, as some people are left with very shaky confidence in one side or the other! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I* have had this discussion with DS many times. he loves science/Maths/Music/art but doesnt like writing. however I had to get strict ad lay it on the line - englsh is not just about writing essays, if your english is bad then how are you going to sell yourself on a job application form? Needless to say his English came on a treat last term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Luckily I (sort of) know what job I want to get. A nuclear engineer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Luckily I (sort of) know what job I want to get. A nuclear engineer You are very lucky lol! It looks very hard and scary too! You must be brill at science! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I am aware that 1 uni (?Bournemouth) which my nephew applied to would not count music, although Oxford where my daughter is, did. I'm very surprised to hear that. I have never heard of a university not accepting music as a decent A level. I wonder if your nephew did Music Tech rather than Music? Music is not a light-weight subject at all and is generally well respected. Practical music exams to a high level (grade 6 and up) gain you extra UCAS points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Music is not an easy subject, Sophie at my music group quit AS level music last christmas, (07) as she was really struggling with it, but she's quite happily working on her grade 8 pieces at the minute. I really want to do sciences and maths as A level. I'd quite like to do optometry as it combines sciences in a practical and helpful way, although if I don't get the grades for that I could study orthoptics instead-need lower grades for some reason. Anyway, as I really enjoy science it doesn't matter if I change my mind as there are loads of science based careers out there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 Music is not an easy subject, Sophie at my music group quit AS level music last christmas, (07) as she was really struggling with it, but she's quite happily working on her grade 8 pieces at the minute. Do you think that doing grade 8 would help me with A level music!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Any practical music will help you with A level because you will be playing and experiencing music from different periods and composers. That helps with the listening paper when you have to identify whenabouts the piece was written, who the composer might be and why. Also it will help with your aural skills when you have to write down the missing notes on the score in front of you, when you have to identify cadences etc and describe compositional techniques. But you don't need to be a grade 8 anything to do music A level. I don't know what you are doing practically but as long as you are doing something you should be OK. A level involves some performing though and this should be good quality even if the standard of the music is moderate. You probably need to be a grade 5 standard in something, even if you don't have any certificates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 13, 2009 Author Share Posted January 13, 2009 I'm doing grade 8 in bassoon and piano anyway lol so I should be ok then! I have also got grade 5 theory which sounds like it should help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 You'll be totally fine I'm sure Kitbag. Anyone doing 2 grade 8s should be A level material. Music is a FAB subject to study. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Talking to the head of music at DD's school - playing an instrument is not a requirement for the new Music A level any more - you can do sequencing tracks and electronic stuff for your instrumental solo - its suppose to open the subject up to more people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I'm so jealous of people who can play musical instruments well. I'm trying to learn the piano, but am fairly terrible at it.... my excuse is am too old -but I'd love to be able to sit down and play something amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Talking to the head of music at DD's school - playing an instrument is not a requirement for the new Music A level any more - you can do sequencing tracks and electronic stuff for your instrumental solo - its suppose to open the subject up to more people Of course you can do sequencing etc, but you would have to be as good at that as someone else was on an instrument. I don't think it's an easy option. But you are right that it opens the subject up to a wider range of musicians. And it depends which bits of the course your teacher chooses to teach you. You no longer have to write Bach chorales for example, but they are still on the syllabus and an option. Edit: Sorry Chickenanne, I forgot to say this to you: Practise regularly and you will get better. Don't be disheartened or try to run before you can walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 The college visit went very well last night. The place is really nice - clean,bright & modern, & the tutors were all super. Its settled Devons mind about what she wants to do, apart from the extra cirricular activity that she has to do on a wednesday afternoon.She was going to do photography, but its been dropped One other problem is that as she is doing her english AS now as secondary school, she will do the A2 in the first year of collecge. Thats fine, but the course starts in JUNE, which clashes with her GCSE's, & she is expected to attend for 3 sessions a week.. So for those 4 weeks I will be running her back & forth to school for exams & then to college for her english course too, in the study leave time.Seems mad to me She is into music too & is thinking of a career in music,probably journalism or something, but as she doesn't play an instrument she doesn't want to study music at college. She was thinking about music tech, but is still pondering this.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 If she wants to be a music journalist, she will need to be fairly knowledgable about her chosen area. I'm guessing she'll be more interested in bands than 'classical' music, but she will still need to know what she is talking about if her remarks are to be respected. Therefore a knowledge of instrumental and vocal techniques, sound systems and compositional structures will be necessary. I'm not sure what course would provide those things, but music tech may be a good start. At least she has an interesting question to ask! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I am edging her towards media studies instead at the moment, with the thought that it covers a broader area should she decide not to specialise in music (& yes, it will be modern stuff) Not keen on her doing another vocational subject, but the music tech could be something she picks up in her second year when she is no longer doing english,as that will have finished. Decisions,decisions..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 I was meant to have a careers meeting today, but no-one was in! I am so cross! I had a taster lesson though, in health and social and pschology! I love both of them and will definatley do them at A level! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 I'm very surprised to hear that. I have never heard of a university not accepting music as a decent A level. I wonder if your nephew did Music Tech rather than Music? Music is not a light-weight subject at all and is generally well respected. Practical music exams to a high level (grade 6 and up) gain you extra UCAS points I was very surprised too - and yes, it is pukka music. He also does piano grades, but they won't count music A level. Shame, because he quite likes Bournemouth. As I said, my daughter's Oxford college did "count" music and I agree; its a difficult A level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
