GCSE music for a talented composer with motor skill difficulties

[CyclingLegs]

Hi,

I wondered if I could ask for some advice for my son.

DS is ASD and borderline for dyspraxia. The main effects of these conditions are that he is a precociously talented musical composer, but has difficulties with motor control.

I would love to be see him take GCSE music and carry on the composition skill that is so great at, but I'm stumped about how to deal with the performance element.

He made it to ABRSM Silver music medal and grade 1 on the French horn, and is pre-grade 1 on piano and Guitar, but it would be a real stretch to get any further. He likes Ukelele, which fits his hands better, but I can't find a good syllabus for Ukelele grades.

I wondered if you might know whether there is a method of performance that doesn't need good dexterity?

I see that there is a section for performance using technology and I understand that to mean DJ-ing with turntables, but could it also mean generating performance using Dorico or Sibelius, or something like that?

Thanks!

Can he sing?

One of the students at DD's school was able to record "voice" for the performance element (which in their syllabus represented about 30% of the marks).

Hopefully some music teachers will come along to advise.

Music teacher here!

Composition was and still is my biggest strength, and I also have a neurological disease which effected my ability to perform.

As long as he can perform something even if very simple he will still get a brilliant mark made up of the other elements.

Performance options to consider could be singing or a percussion instrument of some kind? What are the music provisions like at his school?

I taught GCSE music in a boys school and none of the students had ever had instrumental lessons. I taught the class basic keyboard skills, and some of the boys chose to perform on the keyboard for the exam. Others improvised on the djembe

But a lot of the boys ended up singing for the performance element of the exam and they were the ones who did very well.

Music teacher here. Can he sing? This would be by far his best bet of securing a good grade for performance. Depending on exam board you are looking at students performing at grade four for GCSE. Singing in my experience is far easier to score high marks in than brass or woodwind. Anything you can do to boost his music theory and reading skills will be of huge benefit to his composing work and his written exam.

Hi,

Thanks for all these great suggestions.

I just checked with DS and he says he wouldn't sing (too self-consious) but I think he might like percussion.

His great skill in life is extemporising in jazz timing. He has a really phonomenal sense of musical timing generally, but when we press the "on" button he just goes into jazz timing and doesn't stop for ages.

In reception when the other little kids were struggling to read level 3 books, DS was sight-singing level 28 in jazz timing, and wouldn't stop until he'd got to the back page and "sung the blurb".

Do you think that might translate into some kind of jazz drumming, and if so, can it be done quite quietly? (also sound sensitive)

Thanks!

I just looked at jazz drumming on youtube and it is nice, but DS also loves harmony and would miss having harmony in the music I think.

I looked at "tuned percussion" and that looks nice because it is a bit like piano but without needing to use millions of fingers all at once.

Maybe I could ask him about that?

shuddering to think what a Marimba costs

Remember singing isn't in front of the class. Dd sang for both gcse and a level and is now on a music degree. She has asd and dyspraxia! She plays piano and violin though, we used it as physical therapy at first on suggestion of of her ot aged 3, that suggested turned out to be very expensive . Different boards have different options and weightings so worth speaking to school

Thanks yes that sounds really interesting.

DS gave a very definite "no" to singing, but I just looked at tuned percussion and I think he might enjoy a marimba. He's been playing xylophone at school sometimes in an ensemble piece and always looks quite cheerful about it when he gets home. I think we could just about fit a 3 octave marimba in the dining room.

I would deffo encourage him.
My son loves jazz and plays piano (has just done A level). He also really enjoyed tuned percussion which is quite easy if you can play keyboard. It would also need fewer motor skills than horn or woodwind.
You might want to look at him applying to Aldburgh Young Musicians if you can get to Suffolk
https://brittenpearsarts.org/take-part/artists/aldeburgh-young-musicians

I wondered if I could just say thank you for all the advice on this thread again? A nearly 7ft marimba is coming to stay with us for the summer holidays, arriving tomorrow. It's going to be quite a thing. Fingers crossed it will go well.

I really hope it goes well and he enjoys it! Parent of a musical boy with ASD too. Mines fine with performance, it’s the written exams he struggles with

Oooh, what fun! They sound amazing.

I hope it all goes well (and hope you have thick walls or understanding neighbours).

I hope it goes well, I was reading as my DD is also autistic but considering music GCSE. She’s not taking any piano exams due to anxiety but can play a couple of G3 level pieces at the mo and sings too, we need to choose options this year so I’m hoping she can do music. ….. off to google what a Marimba is as I’ve never heard of it!

Hi,

I wondered if I could send extra special double thanks to all on this thread?

DS loves the marimba. He has learned a whole grade four piece in a few days and is playing it really beautifully with the recorded acommpaniment.

Best thing is that he actually enjoys practising just for the joy of it, and cracks out scales and his tune frequently throughout the day, just for the pleasure of it.

We are going to buy the rental marimba, so it is now a family member.

I feel as though I've struck gold.

Thank you very much.