Essence Statement
GCSE Music is about making and listening to music. It covers performing, composing and listening in a wide variety of musical styles - popular music, world music, and classical music. There are opportunities to use music technology such as sequencing and recording.
Students will enjoy this course if they want to study a subject that:
· involves performing
· involves listening to all kinds of music
· involves composing or arranging music
· gives an opportunity to play music with others in, eg rock groups, bands, orchestras or local choirs
· gives an opportunity to learn more about and use music technology
Teaching Staff
Mrs K Heeley
Mrs C McManus
Examination Details – Edexcel Syllabus
The scheme of assessment comprises 3 components:
Paper 1: Solo Performing / Performing during the course 30%
(It is recommended that students have instrumental
or vocal tuition.)
Paper 2: 2 Compositions based on different Areas of Study 30%
Paper 3: Listening and Appraising 40%
(Written paper 1hr 30mins)
Candidate to answer questions on all 4 Areas of Study
Course Details
Area of Study 1: Repetition and contrast in Western Classical Music
1600-1899
· ground bass and variations
· ternary form
· rondo
Area of Study 2: New directions in Western Classical Music 1900 to the present day
· Expressionism and serialism
· minimalism
· experimental music, eg aleatoric music, performance art, the use of graphic notation
· electronic music
Area of Study 3: Popular song in context
· dance music 1985 to present day
· Brit pop and its influences
· songs from musicals
Area of Study 4: Rhythms, scales and modes in music from around the world
· Indian raga
· African music
· music which draws together at least two different cultures, eg bhangra, folk rock
· fusions
What can I do with a Music qualification?
All three aspects of musical knowledge (performing, composing and listening) are related to each other through the Areas of Study.
GCSE Music is a good preparation for further musical study and a solid foundation for the AS/A levels in Music and Music Technology as well as BTEC National Diplomas (in Music, Popular Music and Music Technology) and the new Vocational A level in Performing Arts. Students may wish to take a GCSE in Music for its own sake, perhaps to form the basis of a future interest. Alternatively, students may wish to go into a job where it is useful to have had experience of music or where they will need to use some of the skills developed during this course. These might include careers in the music industry, publishing, entertainment and teaching, or any job which involves communication and expressive skills.
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