To Think Music Is More Acadaemic Than DT?

[Pooplucy]

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?

At DD1's superselective grammar, DT is a compulsory subject.

I wouldn't say it's academic though. But then, unlike Gove, I don't assume that a subject has more worth because it is academic.

Tbh I don't think that many people at grade7 or 8 in 3 instruments would do A Level music either. Surely the gradings would be more important for getting into Guildhall etc than A Level music?
Their entry requirements say you need 2 A Levels, it doesn't state that 1 needs to be music.

It depends, if you want to do performance music it probably isn't as useful. However most courses have composition and analysis of styles etc. and music GCSE/A level probably does give you a better backing in that.

DT tends to attract the less able pupils and then a few brighter ones who want to do engineering or an engineering apprenticeship.
They think it's just a question of making a storage unit/bird box or whatever.
There is actually a great deal of written folder work to do before the tools even come out.

Some of them are in for a shock!

As far as I am concerned both DT and music are GCSEs for fun. I think that the chances of DT leading to employment are slightly higher than music leading to employment.

I think that each girl should do the subjects she enjoys.

They are both valuable. Probably. My electronics GCSEs wasn't really any use but hopefully things have moved on in the last 15 years!

Music is more traditionally academic though.

Moomin

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

I was thinking the same and I was wondering whether the OP's daughter was at school with ISA's younger sister!

Music is more traditionally academic but I don't know that I'd bother with it for a child playing 3 instruments to a high level.
One of my pupils got in to do A level at Trinity at 15 with Grade 8 practicals, DD1 got into music A level at the local college with Grade 5 piano, Grade 5 theory and Grade 6 singing (so not particularly high) and DD2 (14) intends to do music A level at the local sixth form despite having not doing GSCE. She's working to Grade 8 piano and singing and Grade 6 theory this year, so she felt it would waste her time.
All 3 places from local state school to top music college have happily taken for A level without GCSE. You really need Grade 6 + behind you, though, and definitely 5 theory.

Having said that, I suspect your DD will enjoy the GCSE a lot and is nice to have some subjects you find easy! The main thing is what makes her happy, not what her classmates think!