This guide is intended to provide you with some essential information about our qualifications.

WHY DO ACCESS TO MUSIC
DESIGN THEIR OWN QUALIFICATIONS?
Access to Music has always designed its own qualifications and courses. This is what makes it so special. Being specialists in the field of popular music, we found that qualifications produced by big cross-subject awarding bodies were not particularly responsive to musicians needs and to change in the music industry. We are able to tailor our qualifications to meet the needs of today's musicians based on feedback from our students, tutors and the music industry.

WHO IS THE AWARDING BODY?
Access to Music is currently working in partnership with Rockschool, the UK's only popular music awarding body. The advantage of this relationship is that Rockschool understands the needs of musicians and is particularly responsive to the content of our qualifications and what we are trying to achieve.

ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS RECOGNISED ?
The qualifications are all government-approved having been validated by QCA (Qualifications & Curriculum Authority). They have also been approved to act as components of the new 14-19 Diplomas. The qualifications are all fundable through the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) which means that tuition is often either free or heavily subsidised. In addition the qualifications are supported by sectors of the music industry and Creative & Cultural Skills, the sector skills council for the arts.

WHAT IS THE ETHOS BEHIND THE QUALIFICATIONS?
Access to Music has worked hard to create a practical and industry-relevant suite of qualifications. The focus is always on practical music-making and application backed up with reflection. We believe musicians should be assessed on their music-making and not on their ability to write essays. However, our qualifications include many transferable skills and options so that students can find the route that is right for them.

WHAT TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ARE GENERATED?
As well as the core music skills, students will develop experience and achievement in areas such as using IT and computers, internet and web promotion/distribution, self-management and business skills, written and verbal communication, public performance and public speaking, teamwork and working with others. All students also have to undertake key skills qualifications (see below).

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS?
The qualifications are titled Music Practitioner and they are available in a number of pathways which relate to courses. Each pathway has a specific career aim as its outcome: Performing Musician, Vocal Artist, Creative Music Producer and Audio Producer. There are also further pathways including Music Entrepreneur, Urban/Dance Musician and Radio Production.

WHO CAN TAKE THE QUALIFICATIONS?
The qualifications are at Further Education level which means that they are available from the age of 14+. You must be aged 16+ to take a Level 3 qualification (see below). They are equally suited to young aspiring musicians as well as older, adult learners looking to re-train.

HOW ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS STRUCTURED?
The qualifications are structured in two ways, by level and by type. Level refers to the standard of assessment:

• LEVEL 1 is an introductory level for musicians with limited experience and equates to assessment at GCSE grades D to G;
• LEVEL 2 is an intermediate level for musicians with some experience and equates to GCSE grades A-C;
• LEVEL 3 is an advanced level for musicians with experience and skills and equates to A Level.

The qualifications are categorised into the following types:

• DIPLOMA is the largest qualification type and is usually run full-time over an academic year (September to July). It consists of eight units which generate 48 credits (see below);
• CERTIFICATE is the intermediate qualification type and is usually run on a part-time or short course basis. It consists of four units which generate 24 credits (see below);
• AWARD is the smallest qualification type and is usually run on a part-time or short course basis. It consists of two units which generate 12 credits (see below).

Access to Music mainly runs Diplomas on a full-time basis. All qualification types inter-relate so that a student enrolled on a Diploma can trade down to a Certificate or Award to gain partial achievement if necessary. Alternatively a student on an Award or Certificate can trade up to a Diploma.

WHAT ARE UNITS AND CREDITS?
All our qualifications are based around units which generate credits. There are no exams. Instead assessment is based on coursework and practical music-making projects. Units consist of activities to be assessed in a particular subject area such as Composition, Performance, Music Technology, Music Business, Musicianship etc. Each unit generates six 10-hour credits meaning that, on average, each unit should take about 60 hours to complete. Some students may take less or more time than this depending on prior experience. The ten-hour credit is set to become the standard currency for all UK qualifications and will be used in the new 14-19 Diplomas. It is already used in BTECs, Higher Education and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Once all qualifications are in the credit framework then it will be much easier to compare qualifications.

HOW MANY CREDITS TO A QUALIFICATION?
We have touched on this above, but to reiterate a Diploma is 48 credits, a Certificate is 24 credits and an Award is 12 credits. The only exception is the Level 3 Combined Diploma which spans two years (equivalent to AS/A2 Level) and consists of two Diplomas (48 + 48 credits = 96 credits). Students complete a Diploma in each year of the course.

HOW DO THE QUALIFCATIONS
COMPARE WITH OTHER QUALIFICATIONS?
Because GCSEs and A Levels are not yet related to the ten-hour credit it is impossible to exactly equate them with our qualifications. As an approximate rule of thumb the following can apply:

• LEVEL 1 DIPLOMA = appox 4 GCSEs @ grades D-G;
• LEVEL 2 DIPLOMA = approx 4 GCSEs @ grades A-C;
• LEVEL 3 COMBINED DIPLOMA = 2.66 A levels.

The Combined Diploma is also the approximate equivalent of a BTEC National Diploma. To get exact equivalence with three A Levels or the BTEC then students should be encouraged to complete two extra units during the two years of the course.

ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS GRADED?
Yes, each unit assessment is graded either Unclassified, Pass, Merit or Distinction depending on the quality of work submitted by the student. These gradings then contribute to the grading of the overall qualification. These gradings are important in that there is a big difference in the value of grades in the same way as there are in GCSEs and A Levels. Each grade generates points where a Pass = 1 point, a Merit = 2 points and a Distinction = 3 points. Thus a qualification at Distinction is worth three times the points of a qualification at a Pass. This is the same as the points system for an A Level graded A or E.

WHAT ABOUT PROGRESSION?
The qualifications are designed to allow progression from one Level to the next. Progression from the Level 3 Combined Diploma can either be straight into the industry or self employment, or to further study at Higher Education. Access to Music offers a variety of HE-level courses including two foundation degrees, the Artist Development programme and teacher training courses, all of which offer tailor-made progression. Progression may also be made to degrees and foundation degrees at universities and HE colleges. Our Combined Diploma generally provides full access to popular music related degrees without the need for any additional qualifications. If you wish to study a non-popular music related subject then you will probably have to have additional qualifications and/or experience. Check out HE options here.

WHAT ABOUT UCAS POINTS?
The Music Practitioner qualifications are not currently mapped to UCAS points. However, the credit system can be used to provide universities, colleges and employers with a viable alternative. Thus, a Combined Diploma generates 96 ten-hour credits at whatever grade is awarded which will give institutions a clear idea of achievement (e.g. 96 credits at Merit). This currency of credits will gain more usage and acceptance with the expansion of the 14-19 Diplomas which are based around the ten-hour credit.

HOW ARE THE COURSES
ASSESSED AND QUALITY ASSURED?
All student work is assessed by the tutors delivering the units. These tutors are usually musicians who have undergone formal teacher training. Access to Music has its own internal moderation service to ensure high standards of tutor delivery and assessment. All qualifications are externally moderated by Rockschool at the end of the qualification period or course.

CAN I TRACK MY PROGRESS ONLINE?
Rockschool has an assessment website whereby students can log in and track their progress at any time during their course. Access to Music also has its own online learning zone where students can gain information on units and assignments and can upload work for assessment.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT KEY SKILLS
In addition to the Music Practitioner qualification, you will also take key skills qualifications in three key skills areas: Communication, Information Technology and Application of Number. You will be work on key skills qualifications at a level to suit your current achievement. You will have dedicated time to work on these and much of the content will be related to music and your other unit work. You will complete on-line tests and portfolios leading to separate qualification certificates which will be of benefit to you whatever career you end up in.

DO YOU OFFER LEARNING SUPPORT?
All Access to Music centres and partner centres offer individually-tailored learning support for students with particular learning needs. Please specify on your application for if you have any learning needs that require support.

CAN I DO OTHER QUALIFICATIONS WHILE STUDYING WITH ACCESS TO MUSIC?
There is nothing to stop you doing additional qualifications alongside your music course. Most full-time Diplomas span three days of tuition + time for completion of unit work so it is possible to pick up another qualification along the way if you plan carefully. Some Access to Music centres offer Rockschool graded instrument exams as additionalty for those students wishing to do this.

DO I GET A QUALIFICATION CERTIFICATE?
You will be informed of your results a few weeks after completing your qualification or course. You will then receive an official Rockschool certificate which will detail your qualification and grade achieved.