Aim

The music GCSE course has three main areas: Performing, Composing and Listening.

• Performance: Students will do a solo performance and an ensemble performance; each performance might include more than one piece. This will usually be recorded in February during Year 11. The combined time of the two performances must be a minimum of four minutes. It is essential that students have regular tuition in their chosen instrument or voice and also practise regularly several times every week
• Composition: Students will compose two extended pieces, one in each year of the course, and may choose to submit live or computer generated recordings of their music
• Listening and understanding: this is assessed through the final exam in June of Year 11

Topics covered

The areas of study are:

• Musical forms and devices
• Music for ensemble
• Film music
• Popular Music

Students aim to develop improved aural ability, a good general knowledge of musical styles and conventions and fluent use of related vocabulary. They will also need to answer some structured questions on set pieces of music that will have been studied during the course.

Assessment

• One composition in Year 10 worth 15%
• One composition to a brief set by the exam board in Year 11 worth 15% of the GCSE
• One solo performance in February of Year 11 worth 15% of the GCSE
• One ensemble performance in February of Year 11 worth 15% of the GCSE
• One 90 minute exam in June of Year 11 worth 40% of the GCSE