GCSE options - is music a soft option?

[mysteryfairy]

I have two DSs in yrs 9 and 8 at different schools and both have to make their GCSE options this term.

Both currently have grade five practical on their main instruments (and will be doing grade six in the summer term), a number of other instruments that they play, are in various bands, orchestras etc and have passed their grade five theory.

They both want to do science ALevels. I have been positively encouraging them to take music GCSE (which they do both want to do), believing it will be fun, build on skills they have already worked hard to acquire and perhaps differentiate them from other scientists a bit.

I've just read comments on the oxbridge options thread suggesting that music is or is perceived as a soft option. In addition my dad has commented (jokingly) that maybe they shouldn't do it as to reach the required performance standard might be taken as evidence of a privileged background and count against them with uni applications.

So sorry for posting this as a separate thread from the oxbridge one but I'd really like to know if taking music might count against them?

GCSE Music is definitely not a soft option. If you don't enjoy music and you aren't prepared to put the work in, it would be hell.

With your two, music might be a good option. If they enjoy it, and are enthusiastic about it, then it'll be great.

I am a student currently doing music GCSE (year 10) and I have grade 5 trumpet but am Grade 6/7 standard and am grade 2/3 piano. There is a lot of people in my music class who are grade 6 standard but also some who don't play anything. Music is far from a soft option, it could be considered harder than some other subjects because of the depth of knowledge and understanding required.

Zombie thread... but I'd be interested to know how the OP's children got on, four years later!

Zombie indeed. It would be interesting.

I've had 2 do GCSEs and AS/A2 over recent years (and youngest doing gcse this year) and, composition aside its been pretty straight forward I think. Dd2 says there we facts to learn but that was it. However they all were grade 6 plus on at least 1 instrument (and playing/singing at a higher level too) and had grade5 theory. They also have a lot of Anglican church music under their belt which makes Bach chorale work fir A2 super easy (as long as, as DS said ,you don't accidentally produce real Bach just because you know that chorale anyway!)

Hopefully dd2 will still find is straight forward at a2 as she's got to choose 4 A levels to take straight through in the new world of gove.

Music is certainly not a soft subject at GCSE.

My son completed GCSE music last summer, we encouraged him to pick it thinking it was an easy option. He got A* in most of his GCSEs (including music) but it was music that was probably the hardest for him. It was the result he was most proud if cos of how much effort he had to put into it. Music at GCSE is not the easy option.

I know this is a zombie thread but although music is not a soft option. I think it is a given good grade for a musical child who has grade 5 theory and good grades in instruments. My daughter did not find it at all hard and got an A* but had been having music lessons from about 6.

DS enjoyed his music GCSE, and it is definitely not soft. He is a science/maths person and I think he got to use those skills as well as having a chance to do something creative.

The 'best' musician in the class, with several Grade 8s already under his belt achieved an A, whereas most of the others, including DS got A*, it definitely isn't all about the performance.