Studying music technology allows you to express yourself through music while developing your knowledge of music and technology. You will develop a broad understanding of the music industry and the skills it requires, such as planning and organising, creative thinking, research, critical thinking and decision making, as well as working both collaboratively and independently.
This course is especially suitable if you have broad musical interests, and are particularly interested in music technology and 20th and 21st century music. This course also provides pathways to higher levels of study.
The skills that you develop in Music Technology are useful in careers such as musician, DJ, sound technician, roadie and musical instrument technologist.
Career Pathways
To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:
Entry is at the discretion of the school or college but you would normally have achieved:
You will develop technical and creative skills through practical learning, and understand the skills and knowledge required by the music industry. You will use your imagination, creativity and technical problem solving skills through practical learning, as you develop, review and refine your musical ideas and music technology skills. You will learn to critically reflect on your own work and that of others.
The course comprises three areas of study.
Developing an understanding 20th and 21st Century Music
You will develop:
Music Technology Skills
You will:
Music Technology Contexts
You will:
Course Assessment
The course assessment has two components totalling 140 marks:
For the assignment component you will be asked to compose 2 peices of music. The assignment comprises of 3 parts: Planning the production (10 marks), Implementing the production (30 marks), and Evaluating the production (10 marks). This will be marked externally by the SQA.
The question paper will be set and marked externally by the SQA.
The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across all course assessment components.
The course assessment is graded A-D.
If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
