GCSE options - is music a soft option?

DS enjoyed his music GCSE, and it is definitely not soft. He is a science/maths person and I think he got to use those skills as well as having a chance to do something creative.

The 'best' musician in the class, with several Grade 8s already under his belt achieved an A, whereas most of the others, including DS got A*, it definitely isn't all about the performance.

I know this is a zombie thread but although music is not a soft option. I think it is a given good grade for a musical child who has grade 5 theory and good grades in instruments. My daughter did not find it at all hard and got an A* but had been having music lessons from about 6.

My son completed GCSE music last summer, we encouraged him to pick it thinking it was an easy option. He got A* in most of his GCSEs (including music) but it was music that was probably the hardest for him. It was the result he was most proud if cos of how much effort he had to put into it. Music at GCSE is not the easy option.

Music is certainly not a soft subject at GCSE.

Zombie indeed. It would be interesting.

I've had 2 do GCSEs and AS/A2 over recent years (and youngest doing gcse this year) and, composition aside its been pretty straight forward I think. Dd2 says there we facts to learn but that was it. However they all were grade 6 plus on at least 1 instrument (and playing/singing at a higher level too) and had grade5 theory. They also have a lot of Anglican church music under their belt which makes Bach chorale work fir A2 super easy (as long as, as DS said ,you don't accidentally produce real Bach just because you know that chorale anyway!)

Hopefully dd2 will still find is straight forward at a2 as she's got to choose 4 A levels to take straight through in the new world of gove.

Zombie thread... but I'd be interested to know how the OP's children got on, four years later!

GCSE Music is definitely not a soft option. If you don't enjoy music and you aren't prepared to put the work in, it would be hell.

With your two, music might be a good option. If they enjoy it, and are enthusiastic about it, then it'll be great.

I am a student currently doing music GCSE (year 10) and I have grade 5 trumpet but am Grade 6/7 standard and am grade 2/3 piano. There is a lot of people in my music class who are grade 6 standard but also some who don't play anything. Music is far from a soft option, it could be considered harder than some other subjects because of the depth of knowledge and understanding required.

Music links in to so many extra-curricular activities that can look impressive on application forms

I found my music GCSE the hardest and most onerous I did. (I ended up at Cambridge!)

Universities don't care that much about GCSEs (although they like high grades) because they are aware that some schools offer their pupils 9 GSCEs and others 12 GCSEs.

Everyone will have to do maths, english, science, a modern language and after that the choice of GCSEs is a bit irrelevant.

A-level choices are more important, but even that is a bit flexible. Check the Universities admissions criteria for what A-levels are needed for certain subjects. For example, you would be expected to have at least 1 maths A-level to read maths at Cambridge. However, you might be allowed to read History without a history a-level.

My DD did Music GCSE and it was considered one of the harder subjects. She is now at Cambridge - not doing music but it enhances her life!.

My DS has just completed this and it was very tough.He can play instruments but hasn't been learning recently or moving up the grades.
Composition is very difficult and the technical side of it is quite mind boggling at times.He has lots of fun and DD is keen to follow him in this option.
I wouldn't say this is an easy/soft subject at all and I'm not sure if being a certain grade is that much of a help in some aspects.
Some of the composition etc can be done on computers so knowledge of those systems may be useful.

I have just completed my gcse music exam and I found it quite difficult. I am grade 6 in Flute and felt playing did not benefit me. It is mainly based on composition, you must submit two compositions, performance solos and ensembles and also complete a listening and appraising exam. I felt it was definatly not a soft option and I am currently looking to do higher education and have enquired into lots of universitys who all mention having a music gcse shows diversity and creativity which people look for seeings as lots of people are getting excellent exam results. Hope this helped.

I have just completed my gcse music exam and I found it quite difficult. I am grade 6 in Flute and felt playing did not benefit me. It is mainly based on composition, you must submit two compositions, performance solos and ensembles and also complete a listening and appraising exam. I felt it was definatly not a soft option and I am currently looking to do higher education and have enquired into lots of universitys who all mention having a music gcse shows diversity and creativity which people look for seeings as lots of people are getting excellent exam results. Hope this helped.

Ooh, I remember doing music GCSE and it was bloody hard.

Parts of it are very technical indeed. It was the only subject I struggled to pass at GCSE (just managed a C).

I am not a natural scientist or mathematician but found those far easier and did better in them than in music.

As a word of caution there is a lot more to music GCSE than theory and performance so it won't necessarily be easy for an exceptional performer. Skills such as composition may not come as naturally and the analysis side is almost totally unrelated to performance. In fact the most exceptional performer in our GCSE music class got a B because all she just knew her instrument and any music associated with that. She also wouldn't listen to the teacher who told her that unless she started listening to some more music she'd completely cack up the listening test...

Just to further muddy the waters it's also possible to succeed in music GCSE without being able to read music at all. I think as long as you answer every other question correctly in the exam, learn your performance by ear and use diagrammatic/'innovative' notation for your composition you can get an A.

I managed to get through my music degree without ever having my instrumental performance assessed. Takes all sorts!

My point is that music is not a soft option, you won't necessarily be seen as taking the easy way out if you already play an instrument to a high standard and you shouldn't exclude it if you don't. There really is something for everyone.

My DD in YR8 will be wanting to do music along with 3 sciences at GCSE when she gets to choose next year. She also wants to do music A level along with 3 ( or 2 & maths) sciences. As she plays 4 instruments she studies music theory outside of school as will need to get to grade 5 (gcse level?) in order to do grade 6 on instrumentt
So GCSE music should be easy for her, and we would rather see a good grade there than opt for an arty or tech subject that she is not so good at, or a further academic subject she does not want to do.
I really cannot see music being classed as a soft option - it is not unusual to be good at music and maths, especially the more creative side of maths.

In our case DD is torn between a scientific or musical career choice so wants to keep her options open
as long as possible

There's also the issue that choosing music at GCSE gives them the option of continuing with it at A-level or beyond - as it's something they both enjoy, they may change their minds about the pure science thing. There are also lots of linkages between maths / science and music - one of my friend from school went on to do a joint honours degree in physics and music, which sounded fascinating!

Going back to the original posting: I think that showing the ability to work in music ensembles (orchestra or group-work in GCSE etc) is a good idea. It demonstrates that they are a teamworker, a skill which many scientific jobs require.

Nope, it won't. I got into Cambridge with my music GCSE and was in a similar situation to your DSs re performance level on main instrument and participations. I ended up not going there and reading music somewhere else actually!

However I do second what OxfordMum said - let them do what they enjoy.

GCSE's are merely a ticket to A Levels. You still have the option to change your options before choosing a career. Don't get worried about GCSE's - Pick things that are fun and that you are good at, as well as challenge you. Do not pick options that you think will look 'good'. As an Oxford undergraduate I really do not think you should be worrying about Oxbridge applications while your kids are still in year 8/9 - Everything will have been shaken up by then.

Interfering could upset your child - Let them do what they enjoy! as they won't study something they do not like...

Have you seen this thread OP? Some more useful comments. I did find it easy I have to say, but it meant it was a useful break from more academic subjects. There was also no way I would have got a decent grade in any of the other arty options we had to select from!

Lol

It's not still Miss BP is it? I think she retired ages ago but somehow cannot imagine the music block without her!! She must have found it hard to relinquish that position.

Yes - specialist music school!

I was wrong - they weren't told not to do music GCSE if they were Grade 5 - they were told that if they were going to carry on doing Grades after 5 and weren't intending to do music A level they should do another GCSE rather than use up an option on music.

"That's NOT what I said - you NEVER listen to a WORD I say, mother"! to quote.