Music

GCSE Music

Key Information

Pupils who follow this course will have enthusiasm for and enjoy music. The course develops the skills taught in Years 7 to 9 and will suit pupils with experience of musical performance (either instrumental or vocal).

Assessment

The course is assessed 3 ways: through performing, composing and appraising music. Pupils assignments in the first two aspects comprises 60% of their final grade and the last 40% is assessed through an examination that focus on listening and Set Works.

Subject information

Performing (30%)
Performing is made up of two types of performance; one solo and one with another pupil or pupils (minimum of 1 minute in length), lasting a total of 4 minutes. The pupil chooses the music they wish to perform, although can receive advice on repertoire. To access the highest marks in this unit, pupils need to perform pieces of grade 3 and above standard.

Composing (30%)
Pupils will create their own musical works and will submit one own choice composition and one composition to a chosen set brief. The compositions may be in any style and for any instrument(s) chosen by the candidate and will evidence the skills and techniques that will have been studied throughout the course. A final recording and score/aural guide will be needed.

Understanding Music Examination (40%)
The 1 hour 30 and minute examination contains two sections. In the first section pupils must answer a range of questions based on recorded excerpts of music played on a CD. In the second section pupils will answer questions based upon a series of set works that will be studied during the course. 

Is this course right for me?

Pupils looking to join the GCSE Music course should be able to play an instrument/sing and work well independently as 30% of the overall marks are awarded to performing. 

All other skills are taught during the course, but a love of music is obviously important.

What can this lead to?

Music graduates have a wide range of career options available to them both inside and outside the industry, including: performer, teacher, administrator, songwriter, conductor, composer, recording engineer, manager, promoter, or music publisher. The range of roles can seem quite endless!

There are also more jobs than ever in music business related areas, such as: careers in digital marketing, social media, PR, technology, label services, ticketing and merchandising. It is also common to find music graduates in consultancy, finance, banking, music therapy and legal jobs.