New Music GCSE : what's it like?

[Piggywaspushed]

So DS has chosen what I think are eminently sensible GCSEs so far : the core is Eng and Eng Lit, maths , RS , some bloody IT thing which thankfully finishes by the end of year 10, and science.

He has then gone for history, Spanish, business but still has to choose his fourth. He is havering between music and French. I know a fair amount about how MFL now works and know the French teachers at his school are good.

Music seems a good choice to do something a bit less classroom and books focused but I know nothing about how it has been affected by 'reforms'. For context, he plays guitar (Grade 2, got distinctions in everything so far but I know that's a basic level) and baritone at Grade 3 (progress stalled by recent brace fitting!). He plays in the school jazz band and in a brass band. I wouldn't describe him as a 'muso' but he works hard and tries hard and practises every night. The only issues we have with music is the high expectations for extra curricular and band stuff when he also plays cricket and football. But we have managed thus far.

In terms of his future, his options are open (he likes Spanish and history the most) so I can't see this choice will make a huge difference . I am just after some insights. I don't know what the exam board is.

DD1 is doing Music - WJEC board. It's about one third performing, one third composing and one third written exam. The written exam include listening to and analysing pieces of music.

She's had to work quite hard on the composition which doesn't come easily to her. But I think that's been quite healthy because she's a very academic child and it's done her no harm to come across something that she doesn't just "get".

The performance element has been a mixture of solo and ensemble pieces, which they record in school. They've been able to repeat and refine their performances until they get as good as they're going to get. I keep grumbling that "in my day" you had to stand in front of a scary examiner and it was make or break, and that was proper performing, but obviously I'm from the dark ages so what do I know!

One thing which has been tricky is that there is a mad mix of instruments in her class and they all have quite different skill sets. So although DD1 finds the music theory elements trivial, because she's been learning classical piano for years, others are finding that really hard. Conversely, when they were doing music technology and recording on Cubase, she was well out of her comfort zone.

Overall, its definitely not been an easy option, but it's fitted the bill as something a bit different from her other options that uses very different skills. She's definitely more positive about it than her friends who took art as a nice, creative option and are drowning under the coursework requirements.

Thank you , but I'm a bit confused as WJEC doesn't exist in England any more? Is this the new 9-1 GCSE or the old A* - G one? I was wondering how much more difficult it might have become and how much coursework had remained.

What you have said is definitely helpful though!

My dd is doing music, edexcel.

It's broken down into Performing, 30% Composing 30%, and Appraising, 40%.
It's not an easy option, but rewarding if they like music.

DS1 is doing the Edexcel syllabus this year and enjoying it, though it can be quite challenging. You have to be very precise in the written exam (a very good memory helps) and the compositions take quite a lot of work! I think the performance element is enjoyable though! Grade 3 singing is a good place to be in Y9 as it suggests he could be at grade 5 in Y11. Ideally you'd do some theory before the course starts but I'm sure it will get taught.

It is still similar - performing, composing, answering on excerpts. Actual percentages may vary between boards.

DD did music last year and found the composition component to be the hardest. (she has grade 5 theory, so had done some).

Extra curricular stuff is useful because at some point they have to do at least one "ensemble" piece alongside at least one other musician.

can you see from the school website which board it is?
it will help you see exactly what is included, you could download the syllabus/specification.

They haven't updated it since last year gilly so they might have changed. I will look at some specs : but wanted the inside view as to how many demands it placed on a an averagely musical child really.

haha loose his grade 3 baritone is a baritone horn he can't sing for toffee

How much computer literacy is required?

DS might be OK with composing but hasn't liked the bits of year 9 where his teacher has been showcasing music tech. He definitely does not want to take that. His IT skills are very weak.

I'm not sure there's a lot tbh.
dd said she uses sibelius and composes on a keyboard linked to her lap top.
it cost us about £60, was done in a hurry though, I'm sure you can get them cheaper.
It's a music school though, so might have different way of doing it, although it will still be same content.

The new Music GCSE is very good. The performance standard is Grade 4, as this is in year11 he should be fine. Also there are 2 performances, a solo and a group. 2 compositions, one to a brief and one free composition, should learn all this in lessons. Then appraising wich is listening questions based on music learnt in class. It is a very good course for those who like music, and there is 60% of the mark that is not tested in the main exam! Your child should go for it, especially as 2 languages can be challenging!

Computer wise, compositions can be hand written or written on the computer. For this new GCSE it is common for it to be written on the computer. This can be done at school and at home using the free program Musescore. Using a keyboard to compose is possible but for a guitarist keyboard use is unlikely. Also music GCSE does not require and extra curricular work except lessons! (Unless you are sufficient already)

Piggy I wasn't paying attention there! Still think he'll be fine, though! My DS has no singing ability whatsoever and would have been doomed if it was part of the exam!
Meant to add the set pieces are very varied, too, so they get a good range of pieces to listen to.

DD (Y9) also wants to do Music GCSE.

For:
She is getting good grades in Music and it's currently her strongest subject.
She plays the flute (working towards Grade 5) and has a nice singing voice.

Against:
She doesn't especially enjoy performing in front of others and has not joined any of the numerous choirs and orchestras available at school.
She doesn't read the bass clef and hasn't done much music theory (her flute exams have been through Trinity).

She is pretty determined about wanting to do Music GCSE, but I'm concerned that she'll find some aspects of the course difficult.

TheSecondOfHerName - of course some aspects will be difficult... but they are for everybody and for all the different subjects. No one goes into a Maths GCSE course thinking I know it all already - why should they for Music...

Piggy I sympathise about the braces. DS2 had fixed braces and had to get used to playing the clarinet with them.
DD has recently started wearing a twin block appliance and has had to adjust her flute embouchure. After the twin block treatment she then has fixed braces to look forward to.

BeyondThePage her friends who are planning to do Music already have Grade 5 theory, and most play more than one instrument. I'm concerned that she'll be at a disadvantage before the course even starts.

She seems quite motivated; she has started teaching herself to read the bass clef and is working through the Grade 1 ABRSM theory workbook.

Oh snap second (hopefully not literally)

DS1 had twin block for nearly a year and it improved his playing, oddly! I can imagine flute is quite tough with braces. Good Luck!

He ahs then had six months waiting for baby teeth to fall out and now fixed brace, but only for 5 months, we hope. He has been great about it and played for the first time yesterday. the high notes were hard. It is delaying his exam but otherwise he should be OK.

I also feel a bit like you in that I feel he may be sneered at intimidated by more gifted musical students. I think he'll like the playing and the music appreciation parts.

I would say DS could cope with two languages no problem (DS1 did ) but he worries about getting them muddled. I worry because although he loves Spanish the teacher is not the best so almost want French as a back up!

When DS2 had his fixed brace fitted, we decided to focus more on theory for a few weeks while he got used to playing the clarinet with it on. After that he was fine, but we had to make sure that the brace tightenings weren't scheduled just before an exam.

The twin blocks are very challenging. She still can't chew properly or speak clearly. The flute sounds better than it did when it was first in, but the high notes aren't great.

My tip with 2 languages (I did two at GCSE) is don't try to revise them both on the same day. When DS1 did his GCSEs he alternated, revising German and Latin on alternate days. DS2 seems to be able to revise both French & Latin in the same session, but he's weird.

I've got two languages at A level (and also did Latin on year 8) and never got confused myself but I did German and French. Spanish may potentially be more similar I guess!

Twin blocks are horrible things but his teeth are so much better and he now smiles instead of keeping his mouth closed after a man on holiday called him Bugs Bunny when he was about 9

Mine never ate with the twin blocks btw. Always took them out! (I usually found them somewhere all covered in saliva ...)

TheSecond

I've known kids achieve the old grade c after never playing a note before they started GCSE.
Obviously they were at a disadvantage to the high flyers but they managed it.
I'm sure your dd will be fine and if she works through the theory books in her spare time she'll be fine.
Maybe she can manage a couple of grades of theory during summer holidays, the exams aren't necessary if she has a good level.
Only one instrument is required, so whilst some have two, that doesn't put your dd at a disadvantage.

Thanks for the advice with Language revision btw, very helpful

Gilly is absolutely right - you could do enough just working through some grade books for theory over the summer or watching videos on YouTube. And may I just say I admire your dcs for their perseverance with the braces - I was very borderline and wimped out!