Te recomendaría usar 
subprocess.popen. 
Creo que mas o menos buscas algo así   
Código Python:
Ver originalfrom PyQt4.QtGui import *
from PyQt4.QtCore import *
import sys
import subprocess
 
GETVOL = """amixer get PCM | grep "Front Left:" |  cut -d ' ' -f6"""
 
def getVol():
    return int(subprocess.Popen(GETVOL, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0])
 
if __name__=="__main__":
    app=QApplication(sys.argv)
    slider=QSlider(Qt.Horizontal)
    slider.setValue(getVol())
    slider.show()
    sys.exit(app.exec_())