A LEVEL
We are famed and justifiably proud of our reputation here at Xaverian for delivering the highest standards in Music courses and facilities.
We expect complete commitment from students – which will result in them exceeding their own expectations.
This Music A Level is rigorous, challenging and hard work. It’s also enormously fulfilling and enjoyable.
What happens when you combine first-class support, exceptional facilities, and passionate students?
A 100% pass rate of which more than 90% are high grades. For more than 20 years. You can excuse us for blowing our own trumpet.
Endless ensembles and choirs, technically-tremendous tutors and a maelstrom of musical instruments and rehearsal and performance spaces make Xaverian a college like no other.
And the course? It’s in three parts. Exams, composition, and performance.
It’s entirely up to you what you choose to compose (for one of the two compositions) and perform – but doubtless while studying Western Classical Tradition, Music for Theatre and Jazz you’ll find plenty of inspiration to influence your work.
Every student has different learning styles and musical tastes, which is why the course values all music styles, skills and instruments.
Studying Music A Level is a chance to broaden your minds and foster a love of all music with a qualification that a mixture of all abilities and backgrounds will enjoy.
You’ll learn theory, harmony, oral and listening skills, and set works. Compositions are taught 1-to-1 to help fulfil your potential and hone your skills.
And you’ll enjoy regular performance classes as you would at a dedicated music college or university.
We’ve thought of everything you’ll need to be your best at Xaverian.
20 peripatetic music staff, and three accompanists, are on your team to help you shine.
Our fully-equipped music rooms are at your disposal to help you polish your performances.
And you’ll have lots of opportunities to work alongside other musicians in all kinds of different environments and productions.
Our Christmas Concert is one of the highlights of the Manchester musical calendar, often staged at the world-famous RNCM on Oxford Road and to a packed house.
Our annual Young Musician of the Year competition is much anticipated and as a Music student you’ll be given every opportunity to prepare for your performance and make it a memory to last a lifetime.
And in recent times our Chamber Choir performed at Manchester Cathedral.
Your Music A Level brings listening, performance and composition to life in new and engaging ways, and links to the world around us like never before.
It’s a highly practical course, designed to bring out your best performances and help you grow in skill and confidence.
Many of our Music A Level students also choose our BTEC Music Technology course when you’ll learn how to produce your own music using the very latest technology. You’ll be assigned your own Apple Mac to use for the duration of this course, where you’ll be working on state-of-the-art applications used widely across industry.
Need more inspiration about our Music courses? Check out some of our students’ performances on the Xaverian Music Department YouTube channel.
We’re going to perform an enchanting clapping exercise – and you’re a star of the show.
You’ll be invited to choose one of the four parts, shouting out a number as they appear on the bars.
Accompanying you today are Xaverian students on a variety of percussion instruments.
You’ll also find out lots more about why you should study Music A Level at Xaverian College.
There are many exciting roles available to those wishing to work in performing arts:
Many of our students take the short journey to the Royal Northern College of Music to continue their education. It’s one of the country’s most well-regarded places for musical education, and graduates regularly go on to professional entertainment careers.
If you’re keen on specialising in penning your own lyrics, you might consider Manchester Writing School. Elbow frontman Guy Garvey is the School’s Visiting Professor of Songwriting and you’ll enjoy masterclasses from Guy on the Creative Writing degree course.
A few minutes’ walk from RNCM and the Manchester Writing School is the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM). BMM degree-level courses are available in guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboards, music production, songwriting, and the music business.
40% of A-level Music
35% of A-level Music
25% of A-level Music
Six good passes at GCSE including two at grade 6 or above
Grade 4 from GCSE Music. Ability to play and read music at Grade 5
2 years
Exams & coursework
Linear A-level
AQA
Two Xaverian students, Ben Haughton, previously a student at West Hill School and studying A Levels in Biology, Geography and Psychology and Reuben Rowbotham-Keating, previously …
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance visit Xaverian College on an annual basis to run performance masterclasses, spending hours coaching A Level Music and …
Ten outstanding students from Xaverian College have received offers to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Following months of intensive …
Two Xaverian students, Ben Haughton, previously a student at West Hill School and studying A Levels in Biology, Geography and Psychology and Reuben Rowbotham-Keating, previously …
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance visit Xaverian College on an annual basis to run performance masterclasses, spending hours coaching A Level Music and …
Ten outstanding students from Xaverian College have received offers to study at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Following months of intensive …
