GCSE Choices - Music or Latin?

[sweatybrawearer]

DS1 is about to make his GCSE choices. He's doing the usual maths, English, 3 sciences and so on, and has to choose four options, one of which has to be a modern language.

He wants to do history, geography, French and music. He likes music, plays violin and viola, and sees it as a less academic option which will give him a break from his other studies.

DH, however, wants him to do Latin instead. It's always been one of his best subjects (although he's less keen on it than he was, so is not putting the same amount of effort into it as he used to). DH thinks it will be more useful in the longer-term than music.

Does anyone have any experience/advice about either? Thanks!

[Pagwatch]

Ds1 is about to take his a level at Latin .
He enjoys it and it is a strong academic choice.
But tbh I think pushing a child away from a choice they enjoy and towards one they don't enjoy is daft. Better to have an A* in a subject which he enjoys and finds easy than get a B in a subject which has sucked a lot of his energy and time. There is a lot of vocab to master. It is a hard subject for most (not all obviously, but most)

[sweatybrawearer]

Thank you Pagwatch. I agree with you about the daftness.

[Pagwatch]

Part of it is my 'ownership' thing with teenagers.
I like being able to say' don't whinge at me- you chose it'

[sweatybrawearer]

DS's last report said (for Greek and Latin - he's deffo dropping the Greek)

"...he often works well in lessons, although he has a slight tendency to become distracted. His prep is reasonable, but he needs to devote more time to it in order to improve his accuracy."

and for music

"He has worked well at the blues project, and his improvisations have at time been stylish."

I can see why he'd rather do music...

[BikeRunSki]

I have both.

Music was far more interesting and, strangely for a science graduate, has been more useful.

3 sciences is a very academic workload, let him have some fun with music, which he obviously has appitude and talent for.

[Pagwatch]

Yep. Music.

Ds1 has had the accuracy thing all the way through. He has managed top grades at gcse and as but the amount of work has been substantial. If he didn't enjoy it it would have been burdensome.

By the time they do gcse and as and then have to start again for a2 they are pretty wrung out. Let him chose things that give him a bit of relief from the drudge. It is long hard years of work.

[elphabadefiesgravity]

I agree music (though I would say that I have a music degree).

When it comes to uni entrance talking aout music is good on your personal statement. Doing music and playing an instrument shows self discipline and music is well regarded at goo duniversities.

And it is important to do some sujects you enjoy.

[TheSkiingGardener]

I would say music. Unless he wants to do Latin A level, which I understand is quite rigorous. I have an A in GCSE Latin from 1992. I did not have to be able to translate a single thing into Latin, just memorise a set text and make educated guesses from word similarities when translating from Latin to English. It may have changed but I would honestly say that I think he would benefit more from GCSE music.

[snorkie]

Music is supposed to be quite well regarded actually - it's not on the same intellectual level as Latin, but certainly not 'soft' and I think makes a person look a bit more interesting if they have it. As all his other choices are strong academic subjects and he favours music I would definitely go with that. I know several children whose Latin GCSE results have been slightly lower than their other subjects, and if his heart isn't in it he may well end up the same way - better to get a good grade in a subject he wants to do imo.

[sharbie]

i agree with snorkie

both my dcs have taken music - it is quite tough not in any way a soft option
they both play and love it so a good choice for them

[sweatybrawearer]

I agree with all of you - just need to get DH to see sense...

[Goblinchild]

Tell your DH that music and playing an instrument to a high standard looks very good on a uni application.

[circular]

I would also say Music, but again am biased as DD wants to be a musician.
She wanted to take Drama as well, but as it would have meant double science instead of 3 separates, we talked her out of it. Beginning to regret that though.

The music GCSE syllabus has recently changed, reading music is compulsory now. So hopefully that will make it even more respected.

[Elsjas]

Music GCSE is considered to be an academic subject - definitely not a soft option. I would let him have his choice - it's his life after all and all of his other choices are classic academic choices.

[BikeRunSki]

Was reading music once not compulsory then? Eh?

[circular]

BikeRunSki - At DDs options evening we were told they expected a much lower take up this year for Music GCSE as reading music is now comoulsory.
(so cderived from this that it was not previously)

They were expecting this to rule out singers and drummers unless they learn to read music.

Theu do the EDEXCEL syllabus there.
The EDEXCEL website is still showing 2009 spec, which I am guessing is the old one. Could not see anything specific about reading music.

Googled a bit and found this article
www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2517271/Pupils-can-get-A-in-GCSE-music-without-reading-a-note.html

[emy72]

I agree with all the ones who said music for all the reasons they gave too!

[Hullygully]

Having just seen ds' music syllabus, there is no way it's a soft option! And they have to be up to Grade 5 theory.

[Sarah159]

I was just going to say music isn't necessarily a softer option. Theory, composition, history of music and then performances too etc. But having done both I think they are equally challenging in their own way and the "ease factor" will be that he enjoys one more than the other. If he enjoys it more I'd say it's more likely he'll do better in it or have more commitment to it (in a very unscientific way I measure that!)

[Pagwatch]

Of course it is not a soft option. But something you love will be easier than something you are doing just to pass.
CV is massively important for uni.

[Hullygully]

I think as well that if you have an academic child, it's good to force encourage them to take arts' subjects to develop other areas and interests.

[Pagwatch]

Yy. We forced encouraged ds1 to stick with art rather than add maths. Totally the right decision in retrospect. He would have been tearing his own eyeballs out by now otherwise.

First paper Latin a level today btw......

[nagynolonger]

Two of mine chose music GCSE. Another advantage for them was that they were trusted in the music rooms on cold winter lunch times. That's how mine started playing guitar and drums.

[Colleger]

I have a musician and he will be bored senseless with GCSE Music. I would definitely go with Latin. A'level Music can be sat without the GCSE if he wants to pursue music at university

[nagynolonger]

Don't see why they should be bored senseless. ONe of DS friends did grade 8 on two instruments during his GCSE years. I suppose for him it was an easy option but there is nothing wrong with that.