Scholarship Music

On this page:

• Music assessment specification
• Music resources

Music assessment specification

Format of the assessment

The assessment will have two sections:

• In Section One, each candidate will present a portfolio as either a performer, or a composer, or a musicologist to the supervisor when they enter the Scholarship Music examination. The portfolio will be assessed as one of the sections for the Scholarship Music Award, and will contribute 8 marks to the total.
• Section Two comprises a written examination to be undertaken by all candidates. This section will be completed under examination conditions during the written examination, and will contribute 16 marks to the total.

Section One: The student portfolio

The portfolio will contain evidence of the student’s work either as a performer, a composer, or a musicologist.

The critical reflective studies and discussions are to be completed on A4-sized paper. It is expected that candidates will appropriately reference any sources used.

Students presenting as a performer will submit as a portfolio:

1. The score and an audiovisual recording of a significant work, or programme of works, (no more than 15 minutes) showing them as a featured soloist, and 
2. A critical reflective study of their chosen performance that will discuss and include:
   • the choice of repertoire
   • programming decisions
   • discussion and demonstration of:

     how characteristics of the music were considered in preparing the performance (eg rhythmic features, tonality, tempo, dynamics) how stylistic features of the music were considered in preparing the performance (eg ornamentation in Baroque music, technological effects in rock, cultural practices, scat singing or improvisation in jazz) how technical issues were considered in preparing the performance (eg bowing, picking, fingering, breathing, stance, diction, language, articulation) how musicianship issues, such as balance and voice leading, were considered.

3. The audio visual recording must take place in front of an audience.  The camera must be stationary.  The recording must not be edited.

Students presenting as a composer will submit as a portfolio:

1. The score and an audio recording of one of their significant pieces of work, or a programme of shorter works (no more than 15 minutes) and
2. A critical reflective study of their composition(s) that will discuss and include:

• the choice of media
• instrumentation
• choice of texts
• discuss and demonstrate how the musical ideas were developed and structured
• discuss any issues related to notation
• discuss how technical demands of performing music were considered in composing (eg bowing, fingering, breathing, language, articulation, conducting a performance of work(s))
• discuss and demonstrate how stylistic features were considered in composing the music
• discuss how the work is representative of the developing skills, style, and / or philosophy of the composer.

Students presenting as a musicologist will submit as a portfolio:

1. A critical reflective study of one previously studied work that:
   • critiques the place of the work within the composer’s output and its place in the development of the genre, and
   • an evaluation of the effectiveness of the work in the context that it was originally written.
2. The score and discussion of the previously studied work used for the study or work that explains, defines, and analyses the music elements, compositional techniques, structural characteristics, performance practice, social, historical, cultural, and stylistic background including elements such as:
   
   • harmonic and tonal analysis
   • structural analysis
   • the elements of music
   • analysis of context / genre style
   • a critical response to the score
   • comparing and contrasting elements and features
   • annotation of the score.

Authenticity

Schools are required to verify that the material presented for external assessment is the candidate's own work. Teachers and students are required to complete and sign an Authenticity Declaration (DOC, 364KB).

Section Two: The examination

Two sections in the exam will involve:

• questions on unprepared score extracts
• questions about comparing and contrasting two or more of the unprepared score extracts.

Candidates must select and refer to score extracts supplied in the examination. Candidates must answer one question from each section. Candidates may select and refer to any given score extract once only.

Resources or information supplied

Resource booklet containing score extracts.

Music resources

The links listed below are for resources to help teachers and students understand what is required for success in Scholarship.

   Exam materials (question books, resource books, reports, schedules, etc)

• 2011 exam materials (ZIP, 1.4MB)
• 2010 exam materials (ZIP, 606KB)
• 2009 exam materials (ZIP, 1.9MB)
• 2008 exam materials (ZIP, 476KB)
• 2007 exam materials (ZIP, 1.2MB)
• 2006 exam materials (ZIP, 2MB)
• 2005 exam materials (ZIP, 845KB)
• 2004 exam materials (ZIP, 743KB)
• All years (ZIP, 8.1MB)