Music gcse

FWIW I did alrightish at GCSE music (I got a B, it was my only one) but I was apparently too 'academic' for it. My teachers requested my papers back and honestly couldn't work out what went wrong until they looked at the mark scheme. I went on to get an A at music A-level (and a very high one) and did a BMus.

I enjoyed messing around with music, not really learning composition like I did at university but experimenting with different styles eg. serialism, minimalism, and doing all the world music stuff. I definitely agree with mumblecrumble that composition is rarely taught in schools. The best you can hope for really is being introduced to a range of styles, given homework to do on them and a bit of feedback. Harmony is covered in VERY basic terms (I was studying for Grade 8 theory at the time so I'll admit to dossing around a bit but even my non-theoretical friends admitted it was basic) so if your choices are Grade 5 or music GCSE I'd do the theory exam. The performance I found horrendous because I'm not a natural performer and the listening exam I over-answered (thus not meeting the mark schemes).

I would still recommend it though - it covers a lot of interesting things that you wouldn't touch on if you skipped straight to A-level.

Composition can be learnt..... but its often not taught.

dd is doing A level music and it is def not a soft option.SHe's hoping to do it at university as well.

I find cat64's point interesting. I possibly would have done another academic subject if I had had the option. But at my school we had to do one artsy crafty non-academic subject, and the only one available that I wouldn't have been dismal at was Music. Me doing Art or Drama or Home Ec or something would have been a non-starter tbh.

Mind you, we did do 10 GSCEs so it's probably good that we had to do one less academic one really.

In terms of workload (homework etc) ds is finding it soft.

I did the whole shebang from GCSE then ALevel then Degree in Music.

I found it light relief from my other subjects but also found it hard at A Level. Composition cannot be learned I believe.

Was my degree a waste? My only hope is my children enjoy music and I can teach them.

Best if luck to you. I think it is a great subject, not easy and holds a cool respect from your peers as you've either 'got it' or not.

Music is not soft.

GCSE music is much different than theory or intrumnetal qualifications.

Dending on board:

30% performing [in a group and as a soloist -can get good marks being around grade 2-4]

30% composition [ usually the hardest bit as most people who learn intrumnets haven;t writen anything original themselves before]

40% listening and writing exam. [listening to music and answering questions about it, usually with lots of terminology and 'aural' skills.

The music GCSE, I personally think, is not rated as an 'easy' option but it is possible to do well in it and not read music that well. The coursework [performing and composing] is a lot of work load if student has had little experience of performing and composing. Easier if student has loads of peices learnt and up thir sleeves etc.

There are many subjects you can take in 6th form/a level with having taken them at GCSE. Depends on the sixth form. Compentency in numeracy and literacy [GCSE in english and maths] usually important to be able to take A levels.

For example if your son didn;t study history/geography etc, chances are he could do these at A level..... Ask local colleges?

Again, Grade 8s are worth UCAS points SEE THIS but most degrees ask for music A level. Probably becasue the Alevel contains more skills in writing music, history of music etc.

Most importantly, cos I'm getting far too serious, if he enjoys it, go for it. Music is such a rich part of human life and can lead to maaaaaaaany maaaaaaaaany differnet things. Even if he just learns stuff at GCSE that helps him enjoy music in his life.

Don't forget Performing Arts - it looks a good option to me. As I said, it's what dd's school expect "luvvie" types to do!

I think it's nice to have one 'fun' subject if there's room. so maybe not art, drama and music, but one of them maybe?

Problem is, Snorkle, as I see it at the moment, she will be wanting to take more options than she is allowed. By the time you have ticked off the ones you have to take - for instance in her case her school has specialist technology status so they HAVE to take a tech subject - then there actually isn't much space left for the options they WANT to take. Which would probably be music, art and drama in her case.

No real reason to do it LGP, unless she especially wants to, or unless she has a spare option to use (ie: no great desire to do another subject) and wants an enjoyable and fairly easy course.

DD1 is in Yr9 and just chosen options. She was advised to leave Music as extra curricular as she has her grade 5. We were told they were looking for candidates who could play an instrument at grade 3 level.

Interesting thread. DD1 is in Yr 7 and about to take grade three violin. Would I be right in assuming then that when she gets to Yr9, as long as she has carried on to Grade 5/6 level at that point, she might as well not take GCSE music?

We went through GCSE choices last year cat. After the compulsory ones and the ones he definitely wanted to do ds had to choose 2 more from music, latin and separate sciences (doing 3 instead of the double option) all of which he wanted to do.

It was interesting that all the adult friends I spoke to reckoned he should drop latin (easiest on him for workload), whereas his own friends thought he should drop music (they thought universities wouldn't be that bothered about it as he will most likely have 2 grade 8s by the time he applies). In the event he dropped the extra science, though he's still planning to take it anyway doing the extra work himeself (I may talk him out of this if it seems too much at the time). He's really enjoying his music lessons so I'm glad he's doing it, especially as he doesn't have any other 'lighter' subjects - for him it was the right choice.

Well your friend probably has a point cat64, although if a child enjoys music and isn't doing too many less academic subjects and would enjoy the course more than the other options available to them then it's still a good choice imo, especially since it's likely to be a relatively easy option for a musician of that standard.

Most universities will just look to see that overall GCSE grades are good enough & won't worry if there's one or two 'softer' subjects in the mix at all. Also, the UCAS points you gain for grade 6 and above are disregarded for offers by some universities/courses though they do still look at GCSE results of which music could be one, so for some courses at least, arguably the GCSE is more worthwhile than the music exam UCAS points.

I didn't have an o'level music when I was accepted onto my A'level course but I did have grade 5 in my first instrument and in theory and this was considered to be the same level.

Now I know several friends whose DCs have done well with GCSE music and don't even play an instrument.

One thing I do know is that the grade exams for both practical and theory of music will count towards total points needed for university entrance so probably worth getting these for that alone and perhaps these are as useful if not more than a GCSE.

At my dd's school they are expected to do grades rather than GCSE if they are musical. The GCSE that the music/drama/dance-y people is Performing Arts - which is supposed to be quite challenging.

I'd be very surprised if GCSE music came anywhere near Grade 5 theory. You can basically do it having a pretty sketchy grasp of music theory. (I speak as an ex-music teacher sigh...)

My dd gcse music,didn't find it hard,easier than grade 5 theory.
She is now doing A level which she finds much more challenging.

She really enjoyed it and said the people who played an instrument enjoyed it more and did better than those that didn't.

I think in most subjects, they're expected to have the GCSE in it if they want to go on to do the A level, so he'd be best to take GCSEs in any subject he might want to continue with. For subjects where the school doesn't do the GCSE, they may have other requirements - eg good passes in English and some other subject, just so they know they're up to the level needed to do OK at the A level.

I did it and got an A while not doing a lot at all. Found Grade 5 theory harder than GCSE music.

Glad I did it though.