By Neil Hornsby, Head of Contemporary Music

From September 2020, students in 6.1 will be able to choose Music Technology as one of their A Level options.

Bedales has a rich tradition of students successfully following career paths into the music industry – from major label recording artists, instrumentalists and producers, to record label bosses, musical directors, music managers, A&R and sound engineers.

The Music Technology A Level course will teach students how great music is produced and give them the skills to create compelling music of their own. Delivered within Bedales’ successful and innovative Contemporary Music department, the course will provide the scope and framework for students to develop key skills and prepare them to work independently through personal and collaborative projects.

Bedales’ close relationships with its successful alumni and music industry contacts will give students an incredible and inspirational opportunity to see at first-hand what the skills they are learning can lead to in a professional context, through a series of masterclasses, showcases and gigs. The school’s unique series of live events – including the legendary Bedales Rock Show and incredible Drama productions – will give students the invaluable experience of working on professionally produced shows in Bedales’ award-winning Theatre.

The course content is designed to develop a broad range of skills including project management, appraising and analysis, creativity and imagination. Students will also be studying elements of sound design and composing for a range of media, including film and computer games.

Students will be able to progress to undergraduate study in Music Technology, Sound Production, Sound Engineering and many other courses requiring a similar skill set. There is a strong record of Bedales Contemporary Music students continuing their studies in higher education. In recent years, students have been offered places directly onto courses at institutions such as the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Leeds College of Music, Goldsmiths, London College of Contemporary Music and Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Find out more about the Music Technology A Level at Bedales here.