Why study Music?

Music gives you the opportunity to use your imagination and express yourself in a creative and practical way. It helps you to develop important skills such as: playing a musical instrument, communication, creative thinking, using your voice, composing and arranging music. You can develop and consolidate your skills in performing and creating music, and develop your creativity and confidence as you explore and develop your own creative ideas and music.

The skills you learn on this course not only makes a valuable contribution to your general education and personal development but also allows you to develop the skills and knowledge required to proceed to further study and/or follow a career in music.

Career Pathways

To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:

Performing Arts

What do I need to get in?

This is at the discretion of the school/college but you would normally be expected to have attained:

• Higher Music

What will I study?

The course consists of three areas of study.

Performing Skills

You will:

• develop a range of advanced performing skills appropriate to your two selected instruments, or to your one selected instrument and voice
• through regular practice and reflection, you will develop and creatively refine your performing skills while exploring a variety of musically and technically challenging music.

Composing Skills

You will:

• develop a range of advanced skills in creating music
• experiment with and apply a range of compositional techniques and devices in refined and sophisticated ways when creating your own original music, drawing on your understanding of composers’ work and approaches and the creative process.  

Understanding and Analysing Music

You will:

• through listening, develop your understanding of music styles, music concepts and musical literacy
• work independently, demonstrating aural skills and an in-depth understanding of music and music concepts when investigating, analysing and commenting on sections of musical movements or works.

How will I be assessed?

Course Assessment

The course assessment has three components totalling 100 marks:

• Component 1 – Question paper (worth 40 marks)
• Component 2 – Performance - Instrument 1 (worth 30 marks)
• Component 3– Performance - Instrument 2 (worth 30 marks) 

Component 1 - Question Paper. You will demonstrate your conceptual knowledge and understanding of music by responding to music excerpts and an associated range of questions in sophisticated and challenging musical contexts.

Component 2 - Performance Instrument 1 (instrument or voice): This is mandatory. This can be performed solo or in a group setting.

Component 3 - Performance Instrument 2. You will perform on a contrasting instrument (or voice) to that of Component 3.

The question paper will be set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Performance components 2 and 3 will be assessed by a visiting SQA Assessor.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.

The course assessment is graded A-D.

Study Materials

SQA Past Papers Music Advanced Higher
SQA Specimen Paper Music Advanced Higher

What can I go on to next?

Further study, training or employment in:

• Music
• Performing Arts

Which jobs are related to this subject?

• Music - Related Careers