Year 9 into Year 10 Music

GCSE Music

This course aims to

Inspire the next generation of students in forming personal and meaningful relationships with music through the development of musical knowledge, understanding and skills.

Students will be encouraged to engage critically and creatively with a wide range of music, develop an understanding of the place of music in different cultures and contexts, and reflect on how music is used in the expression of personal and collective identities.

Students will develop their own musicianship and technical skills on their instrument to develop compelling and engaging performances.

Why study GCSE Music?

You should study music at GCSE if you have an interest in how music is created and performed in a range of cultures and traditions.  You should study music if you have interest in listening to, writing and performing music.

Music is an academic subject in its own right, but it actually benefits other subjects too.

A recent study in the UK found that playing a musical instrument appears to enhance general performance in other subjects at GCSE. Other studies have shown that music benefits learning by activating all areas of the brain: auditory (sound processing); motor (rhythm processing); and limbic (emotions). By choosing music, your child could actually be improving their chances of doing well in their other subjects.

Music provides transferable skills such as:

• independent learning: having to be disciplined about practising on their instrument or voice
• team working: particularly if they’re involved in weekly groups or ensembles, concerts and performances.
• performance and presentation skills which are useful for any job/career
• listening: this is highly developed in musicians and it is an important part of the course
• analytical and essay-writing skills.
• critical thinking
• confidence and self-esteem: which has a knock-on effect in all areas of life and learning
• creativity and self-expression: helping young people to think differently and harness the power of their imagination

Research has shown that music can improve mood and prompt creative flow, which helps with anxiety and self-doubt. It can also help young people to regulate their emotions.  Engaging in music making has been proven to support young people to achieve good mental health.

The important reason that a student should choose music GCSE is that students are likely to achieve a higher grade in a subject area that they enjoy.  Doing GCSE music doesn’t mean committing to life as a professional musician, however, (unless you want it to), many leaders in the most competitive fields are musicians: Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Sir Patrick Moore, Professor Brian Cox, Albert Einstien, Julia Roberts, Hailie Berry, Mahatma Ghandi, Samuel L Jackson.

To choose music you are recommended to have the following interests and skills:

• Enjoy composing music
• Enjoy performing music
• Enjoy listening to a wide range of music
• Be willing to practice your instrument outside of school
• Be willing to commit to extra curricular music making
• Be able to play at least one instrument to any level – speak to Mr Ness

To study music can lead you to a huge number of destinations, the most apparent are:

• Music Degree
• Jazz, Popular and Commercial Music Degree
• Music Technology Degree
• Musical Therapy Degree
• Musicology
• Music Business Management Degree

Studying music at GCSE or A Level does not restrict your future choices to music.  Many courses are now looking for music as part of an applicants grades.

Music is held in such academic and creative high esteem that it is the only arts subject accepted by some of the highest performing universities in the country (Cambridge and London School of Economics) and is used to distinguish between incredibly high calibre students on the most competitive courses in the country (medicine and law).

Just because you study music does not mean you need to become involved in the music industry.

Component 1: Performing (30% of the qualification)

Content overview

Students will perform two performances with a combined total of four minutes or more:

• One solo performance of at least one minute in duration and may be comprised of one or pieces.
• One ensemble performance of at least one minute duration and may be comprised of one or more pieces.

Assessment overview

Each performance will be marked out of 30 marks

 

Component 2: Composition (30% of the qualification)

Content overview

Students will compose two compositions with a combined total of three minutes or more:

• One free composition written for any genre, ensemble or purpose.  This must be at least one minute in duration.
• One composition from a selection of four briefs issued by the exam board.  The genre, ensemble and structure can be defined by the students but must meet the objectives of the brief.  This must be at least one minute in duration.

Assessment overview

Each composition will be marked out of 30 marks.

 

Component 3: Appraising (40% of the qualification)

This is a written/listening exam where there are two distinct sections.  The first is questions relating to one of eight set works which we have studied through the course.

The second half is unfamiliar works that still utilise the key words and concepts we have studied in lessons.

Key contact

Mr Tranchinas, Teacher of Music

 

Syllabus website

GCSE Music (1MU0) Specification Issue 4 (pearson.com)