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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To Think Music Is More Acadaemic Than DT?

33 replies

Pooplucy · 11/05/2014 21:03

Hi, first time poster!

My DD(13) has lately chosen her GCSE options which include History, Drama, Music and German.

One of the girls in her year was telling how how her GCSE choices were better than my DD's because she chose DT and not music ( despite my dd playing and to a high level 3 instruments!) and that music was far less academic than DT!

Now was I BU to think that music is way more academic than DT?

OP posts:

whatchatalkinboutwillis · 11/05/2014 21:05

Does it matter?

Forgettable · 11/05/2014 21:06

Don't get involved

(Stealth boast much?)

Sparklingbrook · 11/05/2014 21:06

DS1 didn't choose either as options but I am not sure. I think if you play an instrument (s) it makes sense to do music.

I wouldn't take much notice TBH.

AuntieStella · 11/05/2014 21:09

I'd be more worried about the girls being little madams than about one subject among a choice of anywhere between 8 and 12 subjects.

Neither music nor D&T 'count' as facilitating subjects at GCSE. This does not matter in the slightest if a good range of facilitating subjects is being taken. D&T is a good choice if she might be thinking of engineering; music for music (obviously) and it's believed to have an affinity with maths but isn't by any stretch a required subject.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2014 21:18

Ok, I am judgy, but ... what sort of parents would a 13 year old have to have, that she's going around assessing how 'academic' her peers are?

I'm asking because it reminds me of my friend at that age, who was extremely conscious of that sort of thing - I only found out much later on she was being pushed ridiculously hard by her dad.

Sparklingbrook · 11/05/2014 21:20

I don't think DS1 even discussed with his mates what he chose as options.

sarahanduck · 11/05/2014 21:22

GCSE music, probably not much more academic.

sausageandorangepickle · 11/05/2014 22:57

My DS 1 is doing both. He seems to have lots of homework for both, and more 'academic' homework than he doesfor his coresubjects. Lots of research and presentations for music, and completing a huge work book for DT. As against making a poster for German, or finding pictures for English.

Both the girls will get out of it what they put in.

Fram · 11/05/2014 23:06

No language? She won't get her EBacc...

Fram · 11/05/2014 23:07

And if she plays 3 instruments to a high level, GCSE music is a waste of an option!

Fram · 11/05/2014 23:08

Ha! Of course... most schools consider German a language...

I'll get me coat...

BrunoBrookesDinedAlone · 11/05/2014 23:10

Yup, German seen as a language these days at a push I reckon

Fideline987654321 · 11/05/2014 23:12

Bloody stupid, competitive parenting conversation.

You sound like a pair of 8 year olds.

ThingsThatShine · 11/05/2014 23:12

Tbh I don't think it makes a difference and they are being petty about it! However if I had to pick one I agree with you that music is more academic.

BeckAndCall · 11/05/2014 23:16

OP of course ignore forgettable's post - neither a stealth boast and IS your business. At what point does a child's education become NOT a parents business? Round about PhD level I'd say - so along way off yet. And even if the three instruments were grade 8, it still wouldn't be a boast, it would be relevant background.

Music GCSE is quite academic, as is AS and A2 level, witnessed by the acceptance of the subject as an entry requirement for even the top unis. DT isn't.

Music GCSE is a mixture of performance, composition and interpretation to specific pieces. If your Dd loves music - as she does if she plays three instruments - she'll probably love it.

TheFarceAndTheSpurious · 11/05/2014 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

ReallyTired · 11/05/2014 23:17

Very few people earn their living from either music or DT. Its nice to have a fun option among some more serious GCSE subjects.

I think that you will find that universities care very little whether a child does GCSE music or DT. Infact if your child gets grade 6 or above in music then she will gain extra UCAS points. It could be argued that GCSE music is a bit of a waste of time as you can get the UCAS points from grade exams.

ComposHat · 11/05/2014 23:19

It matters not a jot. In 25 years time they will struggle to remember what GCSEs they've taken. No one is going to care what specific GCSEs they have so long as yhey include English, Maths &Science at grade C or above.

The insane inflation in the number of GCSEs young people are forcef into taking is not at behest of universities or fe colleges, but to fo with the bullshit league tables.

BackforGood · 11/05/2014 23:27

Just as a warning - people can be ...er... blunt ! in AIBU, so I hope you aren't too sensitive. You are better off in chat if you want a gentler discussion

YABU to be getting involved in petty things your dd's peers say to one another.

Martorana · 11/05/2014 23:31

If she plays 3 instruments to a high level, then music GCSE is a waste of a choice.

What do you mean by "high level"?

treaclesoda · 11/05/2014 23:32

I didn't know that about UCAS points for being above grade 6. Is that a new thing, or has it always been the case? I had grade 8 by the time I was applying for university and never even mentioned it on my UCAS form because I didn't think anyone but me cared! Doesn't matter now obviously, all in the past, but who wouldn't want a few extra points?

ReallyTired · 11/05/2014 23:44

"If she plays 3 instruments to a high level, then music GCSE is a waste of a choice.

What do you mean by "high level"?"

A high level is grade 6 or above.

If she enjoys music then doing GSCE music will not be a waste of time. However from an academic point of view if she has grade 6 in musical instrument then GCSE music becomes a bit irrelevent for the purpose of getting into uni. (Just like if a child has AS maths at 15 years old then their GCSE maths grade is irrelevent.)

I believe its possible to do A-level music if you don't have GCSE. Provided that you have studied music to a high standard.

MoominAndMiniMoom · 12/05/2014 02:19

ReallyTired it depends on the college. B in Music was an absolute requirement to continue it at my college, as well as Grade 3 or above in an instrument. It meant I couldn't do it because I stopped doing grades in violin after grade 2, and my singing teacher didn't like the grading exams so didn't enter us for them totally not bitter

But it really is down to individual teachers. I didn't do GCSE Drama, and yet I got in to study it at A Level (and now to do Acting at university) because I could show evidence of a long time in amateur and semi-professional theatre.

In response to the thread, YABU to get involved in petty squabbles. I'm guessing the girl who said this is one of those The Student Room types... they're absolutely insufferable, I used to review personal statements on there and the inflated sense of self-worth for doing STEM rather than Arts subjects was disconcerting. Some of them really think it makes them better people

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 12/05/2014 06:49

There's a lot of link up between DT and Physics now, things like the Arkwright scholarship, which are engineering-focussed.

However I would say music was a more 'traditional' academic subject. I would say DT was more vocational (and before anybody takes that the wrong way, I mean in the medicine is vocational, chemistry is academic sense).

HolidayCriminal · 12/05/2014 06:53

DT is utterly brilliant if you're heading for an engineering career. Whereas music is a bit iffy for engineering (at best). And DT might not be helpful on a fine arts course. Best choice of course is the one that they hope to excel most at, too.

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