Music / International Baccalaureat

[Nerdybeethoven]

This is a bit of a specialist and hypothetical question but here goes:

DS in Year 9 will be taking his GCSE options later this year. He's unlikely to be able to fit in Music because it's not compatible with the other subjects he wants to do (there are only 2 or 3 free choices anyway - everything else is compulsory …).

Thinking further ahead to sixth form, his school does IB instead of A levels and there's every chance he'll want to do music then. He might even want to do it at college / university.

My question is - how hard would it be for him to take IB Music at the higher (not standard) level if he hasn't done GCSE. Bearing in mind he's quite advanced as a performer (solo and ensemble) and also does some basic composition as a hobby. Although he hasn't had much formal music theory/history/analysis instruction (apart from what comes up in instrumental lessons), my DH and I are both musicians and he's grown up in a musical household, where music is talked about - from lots of perspectives - all the time.

He could do some of the ABRSM theory exams (at least Grade 5, possibly higher) privately between now and sixth form.

I will definitely ask to talk to the school about this when decision time comes, but would like to be as informed as possible myself before then. Not sure how flexible school will be.

He's not likely to have much free time to take an additional GCSE outside of school (he'll be doing 12 of 13 GCSEs in school), but we'd be prepared to try and create some kind of programme privately to make sure he can be up to scratch for doing IB if he wants to.

But just wondering how realistic this is? Any feedback welcome!

[farangatang]

Check out www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/music-brief-hl-en.pdf for the IB higher music course overview. Performing constitutes less than 1/3 of the total marks, but as a high level performer who enjoys composing, and being from a family of musicians where music is discussed and analysed, I'm sure he'd pick up the skills!
Motivation and effort will go a long way, and he will be taught analytical and composition skills as part of the course.
He's already doing a CRAZY amount of GCSEs (and only gets to choose 2 or 3 of them? What kind of school is he at?!!!). He should be fine with IB Music if he's prepared to work hard on the skills which are weaker than his performing ones. Also, Grade 5 performance/theory is considered at the top of the range for GCSE achievement, so it really doesn't affect future chances at music college not to have GCSE (or even IB) Music, especially if you're an excellent performer - you must know this as a musician yourself!
That said, some schools don't like to take the risk on students who haven't 'proven' they can achieve at least an A (7) in GCSE Music. Good luck with working it out with the school.

[Fifthtimelucky]

Many years ago, my sister did A level music without having done the O level. And I'm pretty confident that my daughter, who now has a music degree, could have done the A level without having done the GCSE. I'm not familiar with the content of the IB.

[Nerdybeethoven]

Thanks for your responses. I'm reasonably confident in his abilities but it's a long time since I did o / a levels and my degree and the whole IB thing is unfamiliar! Music ed has changed a lot since my day (not necessarily for the better in my view but that's personal opinion!) Major difference is the technology which I definitely can't help him with but he seems quite able to figure stuff out for himself and we've invested in some of the software they use at school so he can fiddle around at home. Really I think it's dependent on school being open minded and I realise they might be strict about rules and making exceptions / setting precedents. I would certainly offer to arrange for him to have some private tuition to help bring him up to speed before 6th form.

It's a very academic state grammar. Subject choices (and lack of) is disappointing but we are there now so have to deal with it. Otherwise It's a lovely school and he's happy there. They do: 2 English, maths, 2 mfl, 3 science, RE, 1 humanities and 2 free choice. So 12, not 13 - miscounted. RE is the one he'd love to drop!

[AlexanderHamilton]

That’s a crazy number. Round here the even private schools only do 9/10

I don’t know the IB Syllabus but Dd did GCSE music last year and Ds has just started it. I’d say he could do with theory knowledge toaround Grade 5 and then work on some analysis skills.

[Fifthtimelucky]

So what are his free choices are likely to be? With the compulsory ones you have listed, it seems odd not to make room for music if he is likely to do that at IB and possibly further.

[Nerdybeethoven]

My son is under the impression they've dropped RE as a compulsory subject but the website still says otherwise. I think it's wishful thinking on his part ... I think it's still going to be a case of which of his best subjects he will have to drop. He can do two out of Latin, music and computer science. Music the one that's probably easiest to maintain out of school so I guess that should be the one!

[Nerdybeethoven]

Yes it does seem strange to drop music but he's also very keen on Latin and computer science. Hard choice. He doesn't have any clear ideas what he wants to do further ahead - at the moment that's where his interests lie.

[Moominmammacat]

If he is thinking of music at uni, you can do it without A level ... my DS did languages A level, Grade 8 theory and an ABRSM performance diploma. Oxbridge and RG unis all happy with that. And my other DS did IGCSE music at junior conservatoire on six months of one hour a week at 14, (A*). More than one way to skin a cat but keep options open.

[Nerdybeethoven]

Moomin: that's interesting, thank you. I did Grade 8 theory alongside my A Levels as a back-up in case I didn't pass (I don't know why I was worried as I got an A - I think it was because my teacher was off long-term sick and I was more or less teaching myself, but I was nervous). Maybe we plough through Grades 5-8 theory between now and then. Useful skills in any case. He's doing Grade 8 practical in his first instrument this year, and could possibly have Grade 8 on his second by sixth form, depending how much effort he puts in.

I totally agree about more than one ways to skin a cat!

Added complication is that he has ASD and, whilst he's a high-achiever in many ways, decisions and organisation etc takes a lot more time and effort. No idea how he will turn out in 4-5 years time, but I'm prepared that he's not going to be as straight-forward as some kids.

[Malbecfan]

Definitely focus on grade 5 Theory then a higher Theory grade. Lots of universities know that schools won't offer A level Music any more, so they take students with high grade 8 practical and an advanced Theory grade.

In the last 3 years, we have sent kids to university music degrees and conservatoires with grade 8 practical and grade 8 Theory, Some universities have actually lowered their offers when the theory marks came in (March sitting, so results out in April).

[Confutatis]

Hi
You need to talk to the school. The IB music syllabus is about to radically change. It’s not clear yet precisely what those changes are, except to those in the know. But your DS will be affected by the changes for sure.