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.

Yes, there's much to admire with DS2. He's a lovely chap

My DD is in year 9 and is being encouraged to do Music. I like you was unsure what it meant. My DD is very musical playing Piano at Grade 6, Cello at Grade 4, Harpsichord Grade 4 and a bit of steel pans thrown in! She has done a lot of theory exams too and is in the school orchestra. She finds composing very easy and has been described as talented. So for us its a no brainer to not choose a subject where she could get a 9. However you may want to discuss with his teachers as there is a lot of classroom teaching too and given the importance of GCSE and getting it right I would get your DC to take time to think about it. We are off to school next week for GCSE options evening...its tricky!

Harpsichord! Wow... how lovely!

Does indeed sound a no brainer. I think DS1 is more in the future GCSE grade 6 ish camp, whereas potentially MFL could be 7+. It is enormously hard for me to predict a possible grade for him in music. I am an English teacher so can guess what he might get in subjects like history and RS, for example and know he is doing really well in his languages. Music is a bit more of an unknown quantity!

Bu then I did Art O grade and loved it. Didn't do very well but I still wouldn't swap it.

Piggy yes it's definitely the 9-1 syllabus she doing. Her teacher refers to WJEC but it's also under the Eduqas name on their site. Did they merge?! Anyway, this is the course DD1 is doing.

They sort of did , yes. They remain WJEC in Wales but are badged Eduqas in England.

I think mine is Pearson having checked the school website. The syllabus looks fun :it's got Queen on it!

Any views on OCR music?
My ds has grade 4 on one instrument he doesn't play anymore and recently passed grade 1 piano which is instrument he will continue I think [odd I know!]. He is year 8 and if he does a grade a year guess could be 4 or 5 by GCSE? At school he is at, most pupils will be new to their instruments in year 7.
His music teacher keen he does GCSE and so is he.

My DS is doing Edexcel music. I think you need to be around grade 4 level in an instrument for the performance part. He is on grade 7 piano and plays another instrument at grade 5 level so the performance part has been enjoyable. He has spent ages on the compositions and not found them easy at all. It is definitely a more time consuming subject in the early part of year 11. However in June there will only be one written paper as the performance and composition will be finished which will be good as all the other subjects are 100% final exam.

Of the subjects your DS is considering I would not advise my dc to do business studies GCSE unless they were struggling to find enough subjects, as it is a subject that can easily be taken up from scratch at A level or even degree level whereas something like French cannot be taken up easily at a higher level without a lot of individual effort.

I would ask the music dept if he is at a high enough level for the performance side of music. If not pick French. Ideally do both!

He enjoys business and is doing well. I am happy for him to take it,

Piggywashpushed - I had not realised that your DS was already doing business studies..if he knows he likes it, then it certainly makes sense to continue. At my DS school business studies is not offered until A level and I had been encouraging my DS to choose it as an A level option. However as it is not a subject he has tried he can't get his head round the concept of what it is about!

This year , they have been doing some option subjects in year 9(they chose them in year8). they haven't started the GCSE yet (as some will take it up who didn't do it in year 9) but it seems to be a successful recruitment strategy since DS is toing with choosing all the subjects he chose in year 8! (music, Spanish and business)

DS1 is indeed doing business A level without having done GCSE.

@piggywaspushed I'm a Head of Music so happy to answer any questions you might have if you DM me - I teach OCR but can answer general questions about any of the boards (there are lots of Ofqual hoops that all the exam boards have to jump through now).

Thanks peaches.I'll think of some questions!

Hello Peaches. Is having grade one piano year 8 too low? Ds started piano lessons winter year 7 and took grade one just before Christmas year 8. Has keyboard at home and taught on piano at school.
He is so keen to do music gcse and his teacher keen for him to do so. OCR is the exam board school do.

I think it is more about an enthusiasm for music, and a talent for playing than an actual grade exam achievement.

DD17 plays piano and she sings - does not simply practise for her lessons. She plays, she composes, she downloads music on the ipad and plays along to her favourite bands. She did ABRSM grade 1 in Y7 and decided grading exams were not her thing. She got an A* in GCSE Music.

I think the PP who said it's only another GCSE upthread was probably correct, though. Well done to your daughter and that is amazing by the way : but GCSE does cover the whole range from 9 - 1 in all subjects so I suppose I am overthinking what abilities one might already need to do the subject at all. It's a bit like on other threads the concerns people have about whether someone is county level PE to do GCSE PE, which is plainly not the case.

DS is not like your daughter beyond . he is keen enough and hardworking but definitely not dedicated to music or talented (and doesn't have a favourite bad or an ipad!). I think it might be good for him to do something a bit 'different' though to widen his opportunities.

I'd be happy (and so would he ) with a grade 5 or above. My fear is that eh will be surrounded by self selecting super duper talented types who spend every waking moment hanging out in the music department! And that his teacher may pay more attention to the success and progress of those students....(which would be foolish what with progress 8!)

But having done a bit of reading, I am happy he will be able to hold his won so long as he is potentially grade 4 in his instruments by the end of year 10, which he should be.

@dinkydaisy not at all, if she's Grade 1 in year 8 she could easy be Grade 3/4 by the end of Year 11 which is the highest grade expected of GCSE students. That said, even if she only reached Grade 2 (for example) she could still do well - it's far more important to play something 'easy' accurately and fluently than play something more difficult poorly.

Thanks all.
That is reassuring as my ds enthusiastic and keen. Hope he is 'allowed' music as his option choice. We shall fight for it if necessary!

I'm teaching the Eduqas spec after years of the old OCR and some Edexcel. My students are enjoying the new course and seem to be working well.

All the reformed GCSEs now have performing and composing at 30% and listening/appraising at 40%. Some boards (like Edexcel) want grade 5 practical to access the highest marks; Eduqas has set it lower. Therefore, even though we have post grade 8 musicians, we have suggested that they play grade 4/5 pieces and ensure complete accuracy and that all performance directions are observed. The marks for difficulty on the Eduqas syllabus are half those for accuracy, so it's a no-brainer for us that they perform a simpler piece well rather than coming to grief trying to show off with something more challenging. Whilst the kids get it, some of the parents are still obsessed with "playing the hardest piece" which is quite sad.

All the pieces are meant to be recorded in year 11. Previously we could record throughout the course, (which we still do) but the only recordings we are meant to submit are those recorded in the year they take the exam. One lad in my tutor group has had a problem with braces as they were put on in September and are coming off in May, after the CA is submitted. I will be emailing the subject officer about this - the Eduqas one is brilliant and normally replies within an hour. Sadly we have not had the same experience with the other boards.

With composing, I would not worry too much. Look at the marking criteria which are on the specifications. Compositions do not need to be put on a computer, but some kids find it easier to work that way, especially if they compose something with several different instruments.

Finally, Edexcel has (I think) 12 set works. Academic kids can score well here if they are able to read the score and learn facts. Eduqas has 2, one a Mozart minuet and the other a rock song. All the other questions require them to apply their knowledge and experience to answer questions on a range of different musical styles.

I cannot make the decision for any child; indeed of my own DDs only one took GCSE Music. However, my tutor group tell me that it gives them a welcome break from "desk-based" lessons, allows them to work in flexible groups which change according to the work they are doing, and we cover all sorts of music (and watch lots of film clips). Please ask or PM if you have any other questions.

I know nothing about Music GCSE.

But a couple of other points.

• You say most enjoyed subjects are Spanish and History. French would make an excellent 3rd subject for A level.
• The skills & exam technique needed for French will be very similar as needed for Spanish. So there would be a lot of synergy between those.

DS2 is on his first year of GCSE music, I know there are some differences (including the board) but basically he seems to be doing the same things DS1 did 4 years ago!

DS was playing instruments already, but school is happy for anyone to take Music GCSE and start learning an instrument in Y10 (in fact from this year school also pays for the 1-1 lessons and instrument hire). I understood the idea is that the new syllabus is accessible to anyone wishing to put the effort in without having years of private lessons.

Thanks malbec :: fascinating what you say about Eduqas being better than other boards at communication. I teach too and use two different boards for GCSE and A Level and Eduqas are streets ahead of OCR!

teen , I did think that , too. He loves history but lacks confidence in it. I think he might end up doing subjects similar to history at A level such as economics, politics, law, business, rather than actual history. And, hopefully, one of my children might actually do my subject!! (English...)