Music

Subject teacher Music - Mr Rainer Langhans

Examination – Cambridge IGCSE

Course Content

IGCSE Music is about musical appreciation and performance. It involves playing or singing, listening to music, and composing. You will study various styles of music and learn to recognise aspects of blues, pop, fusion, funk, techno, electronic music, and music from different cultures as well as classical music. You will be encouraged to use computers and music technology. 

How will you be assessed? 

Composing 30%

You will work on a variety of exercises to develop your creative composition skills. By the end of the course, you will be expected to submit two compositions for grading which need to be recorded. 

Performance 30% 

Over the two years of the course, you will be expected to take lessons in your chosen instrument(s). Lessons can be either arranged privately or through the school. You will have regular performance assessments during your music lessons. For the practical exam, you will have to sing or play individually and sing or play as part of an ensemble. It is expected that all IGCSE Music students take part in the musical life of the school by regularly performing at assemblies, festivals, and school-related functions.

Listening: 40% 

Over the course of the two-year programme, you will study the following rudiments of music theory: melody and rhythm; harmony; ensembles & instruments/voices; instrumental and/or vocal effects; structure; compositional devices; texture; style and genre. There will also be two prescribed works which you will study. 

Final Exam 20%of the year mark

In a final exam, students will answer questions on extracts of music from several styles and genres.

The aims of the IGCSE Music examination are to:

• Enable you to acquire and consolidate a range of basic musical skills, knowledge and understanding, through the activities of listening, performing, and composing

• Help you develop a perceptive, sensitive, and critical response to the main historical periods and styles of Western music

• Help you to recognize and understand the music of various non-Western traditions, and thus form an appreciation of cultural similarities and differences

• Provide a foundation for the development of an informed appreciation of music

• Provide a foundation for further study in music at a higher level

Upon completion of the two-year course, you are expected to have:

• Developed a stronger aural perception through critical listening

• Developed critical analysis skills

• Developed correct and appropriate use of specific vocabulary and terminology in describing music

• Developed a good understanding of music in the different periods of history and being able to identify them

• Developed greater confidence in performing skills on your instrument(s)

• Developed skills in composing in various styles

Careers

As a music graduate, composing, performing and teaching are just three of the ways you can develop your music career

Jobs directly related to your music studies could include:

• Music producer

• Music therapist

• Musicians

• Private music teacher

• Secondary school teacher

• Sound designer

• Audio engineer

• Sound technician, broadcasting/film/video

• Special effects technician

Jobs where your music studies would be useful include:

• Arts administrator

• Broadcast engineers

• Choreographers

• Community arts worker

• Events manager

• Marketing Executive

• Private tutors

• Radio broadcast assistant

• Radio producer

• Talent agents

• Theater stage manager