Based at the Workington Academy site.

Examination Board

RockSchool (RSL Level 3)

Entry Criteria

This course is open to anyone with a keen interest in music, whether that be music performance, music composition, music technology or music business. Although previous experience of studying music is preferred, there are no pre-requisites to having studied a music course beforehand. This qualification is available for all learners aged 16 and older. There are no specific requirements for entry, though learners are likely to hold related qualifications at Entry Level, Level 1 or Level 2 (GCSE) or have related musical experience.

Assessment

External Core Unit – Rehearsal Skills and Live Performance (33%)

Internal Core Unit – Planning for a Career in Music 17%

Optional Unit – 16.5%

Optional Unit – 16.5%

Optional Unit – 16.5%

Why you should study Music

This is an exciting course that encourages musical creativity and provides learners with a music industry qualification that will equip learners with the skills, knowledge and understanding for entry to employment in the music industry or progression to further study at a higher level.

This qualification aims to offer practical structured learning with the flexibility to specialise in different disciplines directly relevant to employment within the music industry, including composition, performance, business and technology. The flexibility and range of unit choice are directly applicable to the music industry, where portfolio careers are the norm and those seeking employment often require knowledge and skills covering a breadth of relevant disciplines.

Course Content

Learners can focus on a particular pathway from the following:

  • Performance
  • Composition
  • Technology
  • Business

Each pathway embodies a specific profile of study and this informs the core unit choices

 

Externally assessed core unit

The externally assessed core unit is a mandatory unit. The externally assessed unit require learners to work to a brief, set with input from industry practitioners (employers), specific to their area of specialism.

 

Internally assessed core unit

All learners undertake the internally assessed core unit, ‘Planning a Career in Music’.

 

Optional units

Learners will undertake 3 optional units to fulfil the requirements of the course. The optional units will be selected based on the pathway the learner is on.

Skills Developed, Progression and Possible Future Careers

Learners can progress to higher education courses such as popular music, music technology and music business degrees. There are many courses in higher education institutes offering degrees in popular music or music technology, enabling students to develop further the knowledge and skills obtained from the RSL Level 3 music course.

The aim of the course is to equip learners with a variety of abilities relevant to the music industry, ranging from knowledge development through to nearing professional skill acquisition. These skills will form a skill set whereby the successful learner at Level 3 is able to work in a near professional capacity.

Examples of the types of employment and occupational areas that these qualifications may lead to include, but are by no means limited to:

  • Songwriter, recording artist, performer, session musician
  • Producer / engineer
  • Promotion, management / artist support services
  • Live music production promotion and organisation