Higher Music

This explains the overall structure of the Course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

• Higher Music Course Specification
  September 2014

This explains the structure of the Course assessment; including the type and method of assessment. It also includes information on Course coverage.

• Higher Music Course Assessment Specification
  April 2015

These provide an outline of what each Unit will cover within the Course and detail the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.

• Music: Composing Skills (Higher) Unit Specification
  April 2014
• Understanding Music (Higher) Unit Specification
  April 2014
• Music: Performing Skills (Higher) Unit Specification
  April 2014

These provide advice and guidance for teachers/lecturers on learning, teaching and assessment within the Course and its Units.

The following document contains the Course Support Notes and the Unit Support Notes for this Course. They can be printed together or separately.

• Higher Music Course and Unit Support Notes
  Jun 2014

These illustrate the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers learners will sit. These also include marking instructions.

• Higher Music Specimen Question Paper
  September 2016

Provides information on marking instructions and/or the coursework assessment task(s). It includes information that centres need to administer coursework and must be read in conjunction with the course specification.

• General Assessment Information for Higher Music Performance
  September 2015
• Guidance on conditions of assessment (409 KB)

Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

These documents contain details of Unit assessment task(s), show approaches to gathering evidence and how the evidence can be judged against the Outcomes and Assessment Standards. Teachers/lecturers can arrange access to these confidential documents through their SQA Co-ordinator.

There was no round 2 verification activity at this level in 2017.

• Music Technology Verification Key Messages Round 1
  March 2018
• 2017 Higher Music Course Report October 2017
• 2016 Higher Music Course Report October 2016
• 2015 Higher Music Course Report Nov 2015
• Music Verification Key Messages Round 1 March 2017
• Music Verification Key Messages October 2016
• Music Verification Key Messages October 2015

• Music: Quality Assurance - external verification

Explains the structure of the Course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

• Higher Music Course Specification
  July 2018

Provides information on the performance of candidates - which is useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.

There was no round 2 verification activity at this level in 2017.

• 2017 Higher Music Course Report October 2017
• 2016 Higher Music Course Report October 2016
• 2015 Higher Music Course Report Nov 2015
• Music Verification Key Messages Round 1 March 2017
• Music Verification Key Messages October 2016
• Music Verification Key Messages October 2015

• Music: Quality Assurance - external verification

Illustrates the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers candidates will sit (includes marking instructions).

• Higher Music Specimen Question Paper
  June 2018

This is a redacted version of the specimen question paper, due to the use of copyrighted material. A full, unabridged version is available from the SQA secure website. Please note there are no changes to the Higher Music question paper for session 2018-19, however we have made some minor edits to wording in the specimen question paper. We are updating the accompanying audio CD to reflect these edits, and copies will be provided to centres in August 2018.

This section provides information on marking instructions and/or the coursework assessment task(s). It includes information that centres need to administer coursework and must be read in conjunction with the course specification.

• Coursework assessment task for Higher Music Assignment
  May 2018
• Coursework assessment task for Higher Music Performance
  May 2018
• Higher Music Assignment Composing Review Template
  May 2018
• Higher Music Assignment Composing Review Template
  May 2018

• Guidance on conditions of assessment

Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

• Producing and Submitting Coursework

• Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries
• Overview of Course Assessment Presentation with audio - May 2018 (14 minutes)
• Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects

Please note: Understanding Standards material is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains up to date.

More examples of candidate evidence and commentaries can be found on SQA’s secure website and you can access these through your SQA co-ordinator.

Additional CPD support

Where any particular areas of concern are identified, which are not addressed by our Understanding Standards events or support materials, we will offer free continuing professional development (CPD) training, subject to request. CPD support is subject-specific and can be tailored to cover one or more qualification level. To find out more about this service visit our CPD page.