Music

You will enjoy GCSE music if you want to get better at:

• playing your instrument or singing
• composing your own music
• listening to and learning about music from a wide variety of styles and periods

PERFORMING: 30% (controlled assessment) You will play or sing one solo and one ensemble piece of your choice. The solo could be a grade piece that you have prepared for an instrumental/vocal exam. To achieve grade C or above in the performing unit you need to be able to play or sing at a standard equivalent to grade 2 by the end of Y9 and grade 4 by the end of Y11.
You will choose your pieces in consultation with your teacher and your performances will be recorded onto CD for the moderator.

COMPOSING: 30% (controlled assessment)

You will create your own musical ideas and learn how to develop and extend them to produce two substantial compositions. You will learn how to notate your compositions by using ‘Sibelius’ publishing software to present high quality musical scores.

LISTENING & UNDERSTANDING: 40% (exam)

You will study twelve set pieces of music in depth: three from ‘Western Classical Music’; three from 20th Century Art Music; three from Popular Music and three from World Music. You will learn about how the twelve composers used the techniques and devices of melody, harmony, texture, structure and instrumentation to achieve their intended purpose and effect. There are short answer questions and some which require a longer written response.

The Value of GCSE Music Universities and companies value candidates with a broad range of skills, interests and qualities of character. Students with an academic qualification in music are considered to be self-disciplined, persevering, responsible, skilled in time-management, creative and capable of thinking and acting independently.