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Secondary education

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Original poster

Music GCSE - no brainer or waste of an option?

43 replies

FlamingoMoon · 07/03/2021 15:13

DS shortly needs to decide on options. Strongly considering music, currently at G6 level in woodwind. Some advice seems to be, why not take GCSE, you can utilise your current skills in the performance element and learn new ones in composition etc, but others suggest it's a waste of an option and you should just continue music out of school.

OP posts:
clary · 07/03/2021 15:18

That's a very good level and certainly AFAIK above GCSE level. But they will learn new skills so it would still be useful. Surely a slam dunk for a good grade as well?

But then you say "waste" of an option. Are there many other subjects he would wish to choose?

My DD did music GCSE (last year of old spec) and had planned to do A level, but in the end changed as while she did well in the exam, the composition was tough for her. I presume the breakdown of marks has changed now and I don't know details, but she started A level and found it focused too much on the elements she didn't enjoy.

She did G6 in yr 11 IIRC so not at your son's level. Is he planning to do music A level? music at uni or go to music college?

clary · 07/03/2021 15:19

Sorry my post isn't clear, when I say the breakdown of marks has changed, I mean for GCSE; the A level DD started was on the new spec hence her not enjoying it as much as she thought.

marly11 · 07/03/2021 15:21

If you mean in terms of 'value for next steps' it would be valid for any application for top unis and any others. If you mean 'waste of a slot for subjects' then there are so many compulsory subjects that may be dry to an individual student that it is important to have some choices that you are interested in! Grade 6 already at year 9 suggests promise for a good grade for the performance element. The rub for my DC has been the composition which students may find hard or easy and mine found it very difficult. That would be my only worry if my next DC along was making that choice now. I would also look at how students do in that school in past years and whether the school is able to achieve/gain/get students to top grades if indeed you think your DC is of that ilk.

Comefromaway · 07/03/2021 15:23

Music GCSE is very different to just learning an instrument. If he’s considering music at all at A level he should do it.

Having Grade 6 performance standard will be a huge help. However if he hates composition or analysis/music history he should reconsider as together they form a large proportion.

Music GCSE is never a waste of an option for someone who enjoys the subject.

TalktotheFoot · 07/03/2021 15:26

It's always worth taking a subject you enjoy and are good at.

titchy · 07/03/2021 15:31

What does your ds think? Kind of irrelevant what others think isn't it?

If he's desperate to do say Drama, and the only slot for drama is the same one as music, then he should drop music. If music is the subject he's most keen on in that slot then he should do music.

Original poster
FlamingoMoon · 07/03/2021 15:33

Did not mean to imply music wasn't a 'proper ' subject in any way. It's more that there are lots of subjects he likes. Gets 4 free choices and has 7 things to fit in!

OP posts:
DudeistPriest · 07/03/2021 15:35

What sort of career does he want? What might he do for A levels?

Original poster
FlamingoMoon · 07/03/2021 15:35

We don't have slots. The timetable is built around the choices the students make and 96% get their top 4 picks.

OP posts:
Original poster
FlamingoMoon · 07/03/2021 15:37

Graphic design is what he is most interested in, so obvs Art. Unfortunately no Graphics Tech offered.

OP posts:
ChameleonClara · 07/03/2021 15:38

How can any subject someone loves be a 'waste'?

Studying something we love and are good at is so lucky and can hopefully bring joy. What would be a waste is studying something boring because other people think it more 'useful'.

It should always be the child's decision anyway.

merryhouse · 07/03/2021 15:39

My sons both took music at GCSE (both got G8 in Y11). S1 got A*, S2 got 9. Seem to have enjoyed it, even though half or most of the class were definitely not as advanced.

They were possibly lucky in their offered options - taking music meant that they didn't do a second foreign language or geography, but that was all. (For example they didn't have to reject music in favour of Enough Science for A-level, which I did.)

S1 did STEM A-levels, S2 is doing history/politics/sociology.

The practical playing side is mostly covered in peri lessons - performance was an easy module for both of them - and neither has massively gone for composition, though I'm pretty sure S1 would not have done all his music arranging without the GCSE classes.

Unless there's a subject your son definitely needs and definitely can't do at the same time as music, it's not a waste.

(Having said that, I know quite a few Musicians who were quite sniffy about GCSE Music, even going so far as to say their children were Better Off not taking it... that was about 2014 though.)

Helenluvsrob · 07/03/2021 15:40

Take the gcse and the good grade that’ll come with probably less effort than in other subjects. Everyone needs something they fine less difficult just as a respite from the heavy workload.

girlofthenorth · 07/03/2021 15:45

Certainly not a waste of a GCSE. Regardless of whether a child wants to study it at A-level it shows that the student can organise at a high level and can use creative side of brain which helps analytical thinking and problem solving .

lanthanum · 07/03/2021 15:47

Look at what they will be studying - is it stuff that will interest him? Does he enjoy composition?

DD never considered music. She doesn't enjoy composing, and the options chosen by the teacher at her school don't align with her interests. The local sixth form will take them for music A-level with grade 5 theory and practical, which she already had, so she's not ruled out from picking it up later.

UserTwice · 07/03/2021 15:47

Music GCSE is 40/30/30 Musical analysis/composing/performance. At Grade 6 now, the performance marks are basically in the mark. Depends whether he is interested in the musical analysis and composing bits of music ahead of studying different things in another subject. If he is, taking music does mean 60% of the qualification is coursework so takes pressure off at exam time.

DarthWeeder · 07/03/2021 15:48

Music GCSE was a no brainier for my DS. He had achieved 2 grade 8’s at age 10 and age 12, and grade 5 theory at age 12. The GCSE was a light relief and allowed him to put all his focus and effort into his other options. He got a 9 in his GCSE and has now gone on to do music A level alongside further maths and business.

butwhatcanwedo · 07/03/2021 15:51

I took mine in 1996, so maybe out of date. But GCSE (and A level) music are very academic subjects and were at that time seen as a good option by universities including Oxbridge and what is now RG etc. The options for papers I chose gave a minority weighting to performance, 20% from recollection.
Studying music helps develop a broad range of skills and ability. It’s creative and practical but you also learn theory (mathematics) and history.

CakeIsMyFavouriteAndBest · 07/03/2021 15:55

We have dropped it as one of my daughters options this year as she wants to continue taking her grades and I would rather she spent her music time on learning for those. The school music teacher has made it clear that he expects at least 3 hours spent ok practice a week on top of orchestra, choir etc. Speaking to her piano teacher she feels that the grades would assist her more in the future and it would be too much work to do both. I would rather she enjoyed her music than make it a chore to get all the different practice done. If she wants to do extra like orchestra she can do it for fun and enjoy it.

orangenasturtium · 07/03/2021 16:20

It's not a waste of a GCSE BUT now you've said he wants to study graphic design and take Art GCSE, it will be a lot of coursework if he does both. It depends how easy he finds composition and how much experience he has already.

Also, if he has only 4 choices, will it narrow down his A-level options if he does music and art (assuming he doesn't want to take Music A-level)? It doesn't matter so much if he is thinking of taking A-levels in core subjects.

Original poster
FlamingoMoon · 07/03/2021 16:29

We have taken advice over the Art/Music coursework workload and the consensus seemed to be that although Art is a total time suck, Music isn't really too bad. Re A Levels, well it depends, if he continues to stick with GD then beyond Art it really doesn't matter at all what he takes. If however he goes off that idea (or it goes off him) then I'm not sure. He is in top sets for all core subjects so those are possibilities.
Agree, by the way, that the choice of subjects is clearly his to make, it's just that he's not entirely sure.

OP posts:
Devlesko · 07/03/2021 16:33

Mine did GCSE and is doing A level.
She is at a music school though, then conservatoire to be a professional musician.
So no choice, really.
It's a good course and the composition element is fun, according to dd.
There's still plenty of writing too.

Devlesko · 07/03/2021 16:36

Oh, just seen the latest, mine is also doing A level Art and did GCSE too.
However, it's the only 2 A levels she is taking and only took 7 GCSE's including the doubles, so actually only 5 subjects.

clary · 07/03/2021 17:24

What are the other subjects he wants to take OP? Lots of us have DC who have been through the various GCSE specs so you may get some further advice here!

He is lucky tbh to have a free choice of four; so many schools insist on MFL and humanity.

clary · 07/03/2021 17:25

BTW meant to add that my DD did drama as well as music (two supposedly heavy subjects) and found it fine. These were both old spec tho so things will have changed.

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