A level choices that are not good for Oxbridge.

Hi, im currently in Year 11 and have to make option choices for next year for sixth form. I am thinking of studying Law in the long run at hopefully a university such as cambridge or oxford. My current choices are English, History, Spanish and Music (Music because I love it and I have Grade 8 Piano). Anyway, my school have asked whether I would like to do Music Tech as an extra a level as I am very musical and I would love to do this. They have said that I can spend 2 hours timetabled a week with a teacher one to one, and then use any free periods and free time to my discretion studying for it. Anyway, would this put me at a disadvantage to applying for a uni like Oxbridge as Music Tech is considered Academic. I wouldn't want to take a heavy 5th a level like Maths or Biology, but would love to Music Tech and think I could get an A in it. Please advise me. Thanks in advance.

Reply 1

Muffinz

16

The four other subjects you have are very strong - I don't think it'll hurt you to take that other subject on, and it sounds like you'll have a lot of fun with it!

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=810355

This is the blacklist, as you can see your four first choices are in the "good" section, so as long as you do well in them all you'll be fine!

Reply 2

Bella_trixxx

Hello, nothing to add but you're the only person I've ever met who took exactly the same A levels as me :biggrin:

Reply 3

username330427

13

I know someone taking Drama to A2 as a 4th subject, and they have an offer from Cambridge. As long as there is some solid academia there, it's fine. :smile:

Reply 4

MikeSearle123

OP

Okay excellent, thats made me feel much more confident. Thanks :smile:

Reply 5

MikeSearle123

OP

Bella_trixxx

Hello, nothing to add but you're the only person I've ever met who took exactly the same A levels as me :biggrin:

Hahaha, how are they then? Which did you find best?

Reply 6

Bella_trixxx

MikeSearle123

Hahaha, how are they then? Which did you find best?

Oh, it's an excellent combination! I personally loved them all, I had such an interesting History course though that I would say I enjoyed it most, persuaded me to change my degree from straight modern languages to IR as well :smile:

Music is awesome but a LOT of hard work and needs quite a lot of dedication I found.

Reply 7

SouthernFreerider

12

as long as you keep the main 4 to A2, you'll be good.

Reply 8

MikeSearle123

OP

Bella_trixxx

Oh, it's an excellent combination! I personally loved them all, I had such an interesting History course though that I would say I enjoyed it most, persuaded me to change my degree from straight modern languages to IR as well :smile:

Music is awesome but a LOT of hard work and needs quite a lot of dedication I found.

So which music course did you do, what kind of composition did you do, is it all like classical or is there any chance of doing something in a pop/rock genre?

Reply 9

RandeepSamra

MikeSearle123

So which music course did you do, what kind of composition did you do, is it all like classical or is there any chance of doing something in a pop/rock genre?

It's almost all classical, but you will study 2 pieces of popular music. Just ask your teacher about it. And by the way, I would recommend you take Music Tech as a fifth AS if it is both available and you have the time - it would be a nice addition; even though it has been blacklisted, it certainly won't hurt you, and is an additional skill. That is of course, if you can handle the extra hours. And yes, Music Tech is all popular music. Especially the test - they are actually fun to take, and really easy! Though I have to say, some of the coursework is actually rather tricky, but mainly because it gets VERY boring.

EDIT: 2 pop. pieces in addition to 8 classical pieces.

Reply 10

Bella_trixxx

MikeSearle123

So which music course did you do, what kind of composition did you do, is it all like classical or is there any chance of doing something in a pop/rock genre?

I did Edexcel A Level. You get to specialise in two types of music for the listening exam, mine were piano music and film music although this was not my choice but my college chose for me! (Even though they are probably the two kinds I would have chosen anyway) , and my composition was a Romantic Miniature. Yes, there was a pop music option (I seem to remember Waterloo Sunset as being one of the set pieces on Edexcel) but as I had no choice in what I specialised in it's worth asking your college/ sixth form what they do!

Reply 11

MikeSearle123

OP

RandeepSamra

It's almost all classical, but you will study 2 pieces of popular music. Just ask your teacher about it. And by the way, I would recommend you take Music Tech as a fifth AS if it is both available and you have the time - it would be a nice addition; even though it has been blacklisted, it certainly won't hurt you, and is an additional skill. That is of course, if you can handle the extra hours. And yes, Music Tech is all popular music. Especially the test - they are actually fun to take, and really easy! Though I have to say, some of the coursework is actually rather tricky, but mainly because it gets VERY boring.

EDIT: 2 pop. pieces in addition to 8 classical pieces.

Did you take the Edexcel Music Tech course? People have told me different things about the coursework so I'm not really sure what the specifics are other than recording and composing.

Reply 12

annab1684

15

Sounds good, i did similar ones as you, but I wimped out of doing music - I thought it would be too difficult! You'll be fine with it as an extra if you can manage the work load, (I've been told Music Tech is quite easy, but that it can be time consuming!) :smile:

Good luck

Reply 13

RandeepSamra

MikeSearle123

Did you take the Edexcel Music Tech course? People have told me different things about the coursework so I'm not really sure what the specifics are other than recording and composing.

I'm taking it now in fact, so I haven't done all of it. (I actually looked at a past paper today in my lesson) The first think we did was to replicate (find the sounds of all instruments and special effects of, by finding presets in Logic - you might use a different program in your school - and messing with the ADSR/EQ. I sucked at this, all my sounds are FAR off though my timings and such are accurate, thus I am expecting decent marks) Shopping by the Pet Shop Boys, which was tedious and boring, but at the moment we're making an ambient rendition of Lay All Your Love on Me, which I have to say is great fun - so much more room for creativity! I can noit say anything about recording though, we haven't got to that stage yet.

A level choices that are not good for Oxbridge.

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