Critique these GCSEs please

[GCSEQuestion2288]

Looking for some opinions on these GCSEs…..not enough academics?

triple science
English lit
english lang
maths
art
photography
music

I’d be worried they do not have the music ability to achieve gcse music. G5 theory is equivalent to gcse level they need to be able to perform and collaborate and compose a piece.

Oh heavens, DC is in for an absolute shocker with GCSE Music.

If that's the plan, I would get the theory books now because guitar tabs are not going to cut it. Make sure treble and bass clef reading are solid as well as reading and counting rhythms, and get music terminology solid (all the stuff that's in Italian!) because it is honestly quite a challenging course without having at least one instrument to about grade 4 level. I have taught it and it's not impossible with less, but it is very challenging and will take a lot of dedication. Getting ahead of the game would be better than falling behind early, because there is a lot of building of skills that don't appear in other subjects.

A bit like art, it's not enough to be able to play it or make up a melody, you'll need to be able to explain how you did it and why it works, in terms of music theory.

Is you DC really seriously wanting to get into the arts/music field for college/degree/work? If so, then yes they look good, although they are a terribly time consuming choice as the art/photography/music will all have large practical projects. If DC is NOT seriously interested in this side of things, I'd pick up one or two less time consuming, more traditional academic subjects, instead of one or two of art/photography/music as they will all have enormously time consuming courseworks, and not be particularly relevant to more academic A-levels, degree etc later on.

At our school they have to do either a modern language or history/geography.
I don’t think that is good enough since I was able to do two foreign languages AND history or geography was compulsory.

My daughter has been able to take sociology instead of history or geography and I don’t think that is good enough - I don’t see how you can call yourself an educated person if you gave up history, geography and advanced science at 13/14.
Also only one language is a real shame - both French and German have been invaluable in my career.

However - back to your question, if your child is not expected to pass in more traditional academic subjects or is particularly talented at music or art, it’s probably better use of time to do these subjects. If they are academic though it’s a shame not to get this education at school.

Oh gosh from that update you need to ditch music. Child should be grade 3+ level and able to read treble and bass clef. Guitar tabs irrelevant.

pick something else.

Is it definitely GCSE music and not BTech Music Performance?
I agree with others; swap music for either MFL, Business, Sociology, Psychology or Rx, geography, history.

At ds’s school he was the only student who got a Grade 8 for music - notably he was the only one with Grade 5 theory.

there were some very talented singers & self taught instrumentalists but without the theory knowledge they didn’t get above Grade 4/5. Which is fine if that’s the general level.

That’s good.
Absolutely no point in making kids do subjects they just won’t enjoy.

My DD is delighted to wave goodbye to geography forever

I was about to say it looks ok until I read your update on music.

I'd generally be in favour of more coursework-based subjects just because of the ability to spread the work a little more but music is going to be such a slog without solid performance and composition/theory which combined make up 60% of the grade.

Our department won't take kids who don't have solid performance ability already. Can you start your child on formal lessons? But even so it sounds like it may be disproportionately time-consuming compared to the kids who are entering the course already at a Grade 4 or 5 level and with a solid theoretical background.

Could swap music out for history/geography/MFL as I assume they play an instrument and does the exams? They can also do photography as part of the Art GCSE. Though of course depends on the A levels or equivalent they are aiming for . If looking to go into photography taking it at A level would suffice.
My DD was going to do a creative degree and any art school she looked at didn’t care about GCSEs (or really A levels), it was the portfolio that had to be great (exception being somewhere like Edinburgh or Ruskin). But unless they want to do a humanities degree like History it won’t limit them if they do three creative subjects.

Depends on exam board. I am guessing that most still require a collaboration performance, but it has been removed from the new wjec syllabus.

They can do a collaboration but can also do just solo/accompanied performances. We were surprised. The violin teacher was even more surprised.

Music is incredibly difficult if you don’t play an instrument to a good level.
art and photography are SO much work. I would strongly suggest one or the other.

It’s really hard doing 3 sets subjects and a huge mistake. You don’t need photography as GCSE to do the A level. Just the Art is fine, and dc who understand what’s needed can work affectingly and not obsess about perfection. Art is far more useful than photography (eg for architecture )
and photography is great at A level if well taught, as is art, but dc only need art at GCSE.

Music - I’d say dc simply isn’t good enough. Play for fun. Photography and music should be replaced by a MFL and either geography/history/RE. Others aren’t necessary at GCSE. The subjects above keep far more A levels open.

Id agree with the essay avoidance strategy and the hard yards with a MFL. The existing choices are very unbalanced beyond sciences and English.

I wouldn’t do art and photography because they are very time consuming portfolio wise, add history or geography

You need to be the equivalent of grade 6 music to reach a grade (before they switched to numbers) in my DD’s class several failed who played guitar or sung because they simply didn’t have theory or higher level skills

Does your DC know what they want to do after GCSEs?

Yes for music he’s going to need to get pretty good on his guitar quite quickly! I’d say he’ll definitely need proper lessons asap- because in effect you’ve only got just over 1.5 years before the practical exams start.

I wouldn’t have said photography and art is an especially good idea- I think one of the humanities would be better (geography has an element of science to it) but it’s not a disaster.

Given your update I would definitely advise dropping the music! if they have done music theory and formal lessons to at least grade 5 they’re going to struggle.

@hahabahbag My dd sang and did grade 5 theory and she can sight sing music. They just have to train the voice like an instrument! Guitar players also read music! However they need teaching!

After your update about Music, I suggest they start taking grades. It may be best if they did a different GCSE but add in the music lessons and grading.

Geography might be a good one to throw in the mix.

My DD didn’t do music GCSE but kept on singing and doing the grades in musical theatre and ABRSM singing as well as the theory which didn’t take long to get grade 5.

That’s not correct. For GCSE there is no advantage on any of the exam boards to being above Grade 5.

in general for Edexel & AqA grade 4 is the expected standard with extra credit for playing a grade 5 piece. Grade 2 or below means you are penalised on marks.

Oh then as others say, I honestly would not even consider music.

DD (sorry to keep quoting my DC but it's not a terrible ref point) was about grade 4 IIRC (she did grade 6 in year 12 I think so 4 in year 9 sounds rightish) and had also done theory as part of her music lessons.

Now the exam spec has changed as she has a letter grade but I think there is now more focus on composition. DD found that aspect tough though she excelled at the theory (ie the written exam). Performance was fine. She got a B and as a result canned a plan to take A level.

What does the school music teacher say? Honestly taking GCSE music without playing an instrument with lessons is a bit like taking GCSE PE without playing a sport beyond kicking a football with your mates.

Unless yes is it music Btec? That is less based on formal music theory and composition I think?

I suggest art if it's a passion, as @MeetMeOnTheCorner says, the GCSE is a good foundation for art A level and other art-related subjects post 16.

Are they aware of the portfolio needs of photography? I was going to say drop that but now I think drop the music.

What is the motivation for these choices @GCSEQuestion2288? Is the YP very arts-engaged? Or do they just not like the other options? As a PP suggested, business might be an interesting option and perhaps not too essay/fact heavy if that is indeed the issue.

Now the exam spec has changed as she has a letter grade but I think there is now more focus on composition.

it’s equally split between a third performance, a third composition & a third exam (set works and unseen listening. )

Hmm OK sounds about the same. Maybe the % for each aspect was different for DD. She struggled with composition (she would freely admit) which brought her grade down.

Anyway for sure there is a need to have a good understanding of technicalities and theory as well a reasonable level of performance.