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Secondary education

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Original poster

DS1 wants some advice from you Wise and Knowledgable MNers...

49 replies

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/03/2012 20:22

He doesn't know how to choose between his final two choices, Music and Art. Neither of them will have any bearing on his future career (he wants to be an Engineer),both his teachers want him to take the GCSE, and he enjoys both subjects equally. Does anyone have any additional info that will help him make up his mind; anyone have any DCs doing one or the other or both?

He really can't do both - he only has one slot left and he's happy with all the other choices he's making. FWIW his other subjects will be English (x2), Maths, Triple Science, French, History and Computing.

TIA

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Original poster
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/03/2012 20:24

And in writing and rewriting that I ended up missing out that he's in Yr9 and about to hand in his Options (on Friday!)

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mockingjay · 13/03/2012 20:28

does he play a musical instrument? personally i would go for whichever he finds easier, because he subject load is pretty heavy. Not that either is an easy choice! Music would probably be seen as more academic, and might be marginally less time consuming?

CarpeJugulum · 13/03/2012 20:42

Music could be seen (later on, if he's thinking Uni) as a more "social" activity - it offers the opportunity for joining bands, orchestra and so on, which may be a good thing for personal statements on application forms.

You could also argue that it is less subjective than art - whether you like a piece of music or not, you can tell if it's well played; art on the other hand is a bit harder to pin down. This may make it easier if he prefers dealing with more practical subjects.

On the other hand, he may want to do something that is totally abstract and work on his own.

joanofarchitrave · 13/03/2012 20:45

I don't see how art can NOT be related to engineering? Engineering surely requires a strong spatial sense, proportion, perspective etc, and therefore developing drawing/looking skills is vital? A vote for Art from me, and that is unusual for me, since I am someone who thinks everyone should take Music as far as they can.

EdithWeston · 13/03/2012 20:47

If he plays an instrument, passing GCSE music normally waives the requirement for taking the grade 5 music theory exam which is needed to qualify to sit ABRSM grades 6-8. so it might be handy to music for that.

Otherwise, it really is just down to which he would enjoy the most.

igetcrazytoo · 13/03/2012 20:51

Ask about the workload for art. Most people will tell you there is loads of work and time involved. I have seen other posts about students getting behind in art.

My DD is doing art, but its her passion.

Original poster
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/03/2012 20:53

He does play a musical instrument or at least did - he did three years of guitar in Primary School and then swapped to drums for a year in Secondary. One of the reasons he had to drop guitar lessons was financial but he'll get free lessons as part of the GCSE, which I think is part of the appeal (and makes me feel incredibly guilty).

joan No, you're right, that's just me not thinking broadly enough - DS1 agrees with you when I just mentioned it.

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BikeRunSki · 13/03/2012 20:58

I'm an engineer and, in the same situation 25+ years ago, I chose Music. I played flute and piano and figured that Music would be less work than doing Art and keeping up the instruments. Also, Art was just about painting, but Music had history, composition and theory elements too (remember, this was a long time ago, syllabuses may have changed!). I was a bit pants at some of the performance side, but pulled myself up on the academic history stuff.

As an engineer O level music has had no bearing on my career/progression through other qualifications. TBH, I reckon any uni engineering admissions tutor will be interested that your DS has at least one arty GCSE and really not be too concerned about what it actually is.

BikeRunSki · 13/03/2012 21:00

Not having Art has not hampered me either.

BackforGood · 13/03/2012 21:03

I've heard lots and lots of people say that art is very time consuming.
Personally, I'd go with music.

Original poster
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/03/2012 21:03

He's just read through what's on here and says thank you very much why isn't it helping I don't know what to do oh god I'm going to bed

Grin

I personally would do Art, but that's me and not him. TBH I'm rather thrown by it all, I didn't realise he enjoyed it let alone was any good at it so it's hard to know what to do. Maybe we'll end up coin tossing at 7am Friday morning...

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RandomMess · 13/03/2012 21:06

I did Art and Music, provided he plays an instrument I'd say music is less time consuming and more fun (and I'm not talented at music it was my lowest grade at a "C")

Original poster
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/03/2012 21:10

Bikerunski I did Art O'Level in 1987 (oh god that was 25 years ago) and it's completely different now - a good proportion of it is Art History and looking at other Artists work. I did just do drawing and painting (one large work, one 15 minute and one longer life drawing) What they do now is more like I recall A'Level Art encompassing.

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balia · 13/03/2012 21:13

Another note of caution about Art from me - DD did Art and it took hours and hours and hours of work. And not the kind of work that can be neatly planned for, either - without soundly too 'arty-farty' she had to go for it when inspiration arrived; sometimes she worked all night. She loved it though, and is taking it for A-level.

If he enjoys music it might be a nice alternative to the academic subjects? (not implying it is easy, just a different kind of discipline)

joanofarchitrave · 13/03/2012 21:15

My DH suggests he goes for the best teacher. Probably a good call if dull.

ColourMeWithChaos · 13/03/2012 21:16

Art is hours and hours and hours of work. If he isn't all that bothered about it then he will find it quite difficult to stay motivated.

Music is less work and if he can start to learn an instrument again that will be great for future applications but also social things.

Abzs · 13/03/2012 21:59

I did a very similar set, aiming for engineering/construction of some sort (later determined). I took Art and CDT (product design) - music wasn't an option for me as I have no talent at all in that regard and IT didn't appeal - and all the others the same as your DS.

It was the A levels the university admissions were more interested in. Maths, Physics and one or more of English, Art or a language were normal for engineering/construction.

SnapesMistress · 13/03/2012 22:02

Can he do one after school? I did two extra GCSE's outside of school, coming in to do the exams One of those I did outside was art.

It worked cos a family member is an art teacher and coached me through it. Could he do something like that?

senua · 13/03/2012 22:16

The huge workload in Art is definitely something to bear in mind but a friend spoke about it in a different light the other day: once the coursework is done then it's done and the subject can be put to one side, leaving the DC with spare time to concentrate on exams for the academic subjects. So it's more of a pain during the year but less of a pain at exam time.

webwiz · 13/03/2012 22:21

I'd say music (I am still traumatised from the experience of DD1 taking Art GCSE) . DS is in year 10 and is taking music as one of his gcses, he is really enjoying it. At the moment he has a lot of controlled assessments going on at once and he is finding it relaxing to be able to work on his compositions.

Original poster
MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/03/2012 22:46

I don't think I could handle him doing more GCSEs after school tbh, although I'll encourage him to continue with whichever one he drops as a hobby.

I've now swung from Art to Music... Grin

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mindgone · 13/03/2012 23:11

Don't they have to do all their coursework in school time now? Which means much less of a load at home?

yellowflowers · 13/03/2012 23:12

Music. It's a skill for life and will give hours of pleasure

oreocrumbs · 13/03/2012 23:20

DSD is doing art and music GCSE (yr 10), she is quite skilled at both and says music is the easier of the two. Having said that she has been playing violin for years and is now learning to play the guitar, so I don't know if it is made easier by the fact she is already quite able in that respect.

BikeRunSki · 13/03/2012 23:22

Art may be time consuming, but when I did Music (yes, billions of years ago, Mr Bach was still alive and penning tunes for us....) we were expected to be in the school choir and orchestra, with 2 hours + practice of each every week, and concerts at Christmas and the summer, maybe Easter too, can't remember, as well as instrument practice (piano + 1 other to G5 standard I think, should have practiced an hour or each every day).