Music gcse

[onegiantleap]

My ds wants to choose this option, can anybody tell me what it entails ? And what can one use it towards later on?

The theory part is equivalent to Grade 5 theory. Also compostition and performance. I took it ..erm..qute a few decades years ago and found it hard. Certainly not a soft option.

I think you have to have an instrument for the practical part of it. Or voice of course. Not sure what you mean by what can you use it for. You can't really claim GCSEs can be used for anything later on can you? Other than you need maths and English for anything, and you shoudl have 5 A to C grades to do A Levels.

I did it and got a B. I found it very easy, but then I had been doing music for years. You have to do a composition, performance, written and something else (I forget!)

We did muck around a lot and a lot of us did it as the easy option Lots of mucking around on the piano, singing smoking and other stuff. That's why I got a B not an A!

Sorry, wanted to give you a different side. It was extremely good fun though!

What was that ad thing????

I did it, I had to do performance, a written exam and coursework, which was several compositions. We were all good musicians in the group I did it with and found it very easy. We all got As. There was a fair amount of mucking about as well.

In terms of what you can use it for, well, the same as any GCSE really, not a lot other than getting the best grades you can for further study or your cv.

Ds is doing this. They have to do composition, performance and a listening exam with roughly equal weightings between the three. The level expected for the performance is around grade 4 (can be instrument or voice), you can do slightly easier pieces and get slightly reduced marks I think too. The listening involved written answers and covers a wide range of music styles and theory too.

In terms of what you use it for later, what do you use any GCSE for? I suppose it could be handy if you end up in the music industry or something, but it's not hugely useful in much more than a general knowledge kind of way - so a bit like history, geography or RE in that respect. It's quite a fun subject though.

Ok thanks everybody

I shall ask his teacher what grade he is at approx, he hasn't taken any. I know he isn't up to grade 5 though. This will help see if he could do the exam in two years, he has been doing some composition at school.

Given the general consensus on GCSEs, if he has a chance of a pass A - C then why not do something he enjoys? As long as he gets 5 good passes. I think he is okay at the main subjects.
I'm not that well informed about GCSEs, if he doesn't take History for example, could he study History at A level? I presume that one can take psychology or philosophy at A level when it isn't taught at GCSE?

A bit confused.

I did it and got an A while not doing a lot at all. Found Grade 5 theory harder than GCSE music.

Glad I did it though.

I think in most subjects, they're expected to have the GCSE in it if they want to go on to do the A level, so he'd be best to take GCSEs in any subject he might want to continue with. For subjects where the school doesn't do the GCSE, they may have other requirements - eg good passes in English and some other subject, just so they know they're up to the level needed to do OK at the A level.

My dd gcse music,didn't find it hard,easier than grade 5 theory.
She is now doing A level which she finds much more challenging.

She really enjoyed it and said the people who played an instrument enjoyed it more and did better than those that didn't.

I'd be very surprised if GCSE music came anywhere near Grade 5 theory. You can basically do it having a pretty sketchy grasp of music theory. (I speak as an ex-music teacher sigh...)

At my dd's school they are expected to do grades rather than GCSE if they are musical. The GCSE that the music/drama/dance-y people is Performing Arts - which is supposed to be quite challenging.

I didn't have an o'level music when I was accepted onto my A'level course but I did have grade 5 in my first instrument and in theory and this was considered to be the same level.

Now I know several friends whose DCs have done well with GCSE music and don't even play an instrument.

One thing I do know is that the grade exams for both practical and theory of music will count towards total points needed for university entrance so probably worth getting these for that alone and perhaps these are as useful if not more than a GCSE.

Well your friend probably has a point cat64, although if a child enjoys music and isn't doing too many less academic subjects and would enjoy the course more than the other options available to them then it's still a good choice imo, especially since it's likely to be a relatively easy option for a musician of that standard.

Most universities will just look to see that overall GCSE grades are good enough & won't worry if there's one or two 'softer' subjects in the mix at all. Also, the UCAS points you gain for grade 6 and above are disregarded for offers by some universities/courses though they do still look at GCSE results of which music could be one, so for some courses at least, arguably the GCSE is more worthwhile than the music exam UCAS points.

We went through GCSE choices last year cat. After the compulsory ones and the ones he definitely wanted to do ds had to choose 2 more from music, latin and separate sciences (doing 3 instead of the double option) all of which he wanted to do.

It was interesting that all the adult friends I spoke to reckoned he should drop latin (easiest on him for workload), whereas his own friends thought he should drop music (they thought universities wouldn't be that bothered about it as he will most likely have 2 grade 8s by the time he applies). In the event he dropped the extra science, though he's still planning to take it anyway doing the extra work himeself (I may talk him out of this if it seems too much at the time). He's really enjoying his music lessons so I'm glad he's doing it, especially as he doesn't have any other 'lighter' subjects - for him it was the right choice.

Interesting thread. DD1 is in Yr 7 and about to take grade three violin. Would I be right in assuming then that when she gets to Yr9, as long as she has carried on to Grade 5/6 level at that point, she might as well not take GCSE music?

DD1 is in Yr9 and just chosen options. She was advised to leave Music as extra curricular as she has her grade 5. We were told they were looking for candidates who could play an instrument at grade 3 level.

No real reason to do it LGP, unless she especially wants to, or unless she has a spare option to use (ie: no great desire to do another subject) and wants an enjoyable and fairly easy course.

Problem is, Snorkle, as I see it at the moment, she will be wanting to take more options than she is allowed. By the time you have ticked off the ones you have to take - for instance in her case her school has specialist technology status so they HAVE to take a tech subject - then there actually isn't much space left for the options they WANT to take. Which would probably be music, art and drama in her case.

I think it's nice to have one 'fun' subject if there's room. so maybe not art, drama and music, but one of them maybe?

Don't forget Performing Arts - it looks a good option to me. As I said, it's what dd's school expect "luvvie" types to do!

GCSE music is much different than theory or intrumnetal qualifications.

Dending on board:

30% performing [in a group and as a soloist -can get good marks being around grade 2-4]

30% composition [ usually the hardest bit as most people who learn intrumnets haven;t writen anything original themselves before]

40% listening and writing exam. [listening to music and answering questions about it, usually with lots of terminology and 'aural' skills.

The music GCSE, I personally think, is not rated as an 'easy' option but it is possible to do well in it and not read music that well. The coursework [performing and composing] is a lot of work load if student has had little experience of performing and composing. Easier if student has loads of peices learnt and up thir sleeves etc.

There are many subjects you can take in 6th form/a level with having taken them at GCSE. Depends on the sixth form. Compentency in numeracy and literacy [GCSE in english and maths] usually important to be able to take A levels.

For example if your son didn;t study history/geography etc, chances are he could do these at A level..... Ask local colleges?

Again, Grade 8s are worth UCAS points SEE THIS but most degrees ask for music A level. Probably becasue the Alevel contains more skills in writing music, history of music etc.

Most importantly, cos I'm getting far too serious, if he enjoys it, go for it. Music is such a rich part of human life and can lead to maaaaaaaany maaaaaaaaany differnet things. Even if he just learns stuff at GCSE that helps him enjoy music in his life.

Music is not soft.