Pathways Guide 2024 - Flipbook - Page 16
Music GCSE
What we aim to achieve
Music GCSE will teach you to appreciate different
genres of music and to develop your listening
skills. You will learn how to develop solo and group
performance skills, which will be further supported
with free instrumental tuition. You will learn how to
compose successfully using a range of resources
to support your development.
Course outline
The course introduces you to many different styles
of music throughout history and focuses on two
main set works which you will have to answer
questions on in the exam.
You will learn to analyse the structure, tonality,
texture, melody, rhythm, instrumentation and
harmony. Through theory, performance and
composition work you will develop your knowledge
of the instruments and techniques associated with
each style.
You will develop your practical skills on one or
more instruments, learn about music technology
and learn about composing music and song writing
techniques.
How will I be assessed?
Coursework is separated into four pieces of work:
• Composition 1 (15% of mark)
Write your own piece of music in any style you
like. We will do this on Cubase.
• Composition 2 (15% of mark)
The exam board will give us some briefs, which
will require you to write a piece of music, e.g.
write a piece of music for a sad occasion.
• Solo Performance (15% of mark)
To be performed on your chosen instrument or
a piece created with Music Technology. You could
sing a song, play a song on an instrument or use
the computer programme Cubase to recreate a
piece of music by drawing in notes or using a MIDI
keyboard. We will learn how to use this
programme in our lessons.
• Group Performance (15% of mark)
You and at least one other person performing a
piece together; this could include singing or using
music technology.
The final listening exam is worth 40% of the final
Music GCSE grade and will assess your ability to
analyse music through listening.
What skills do I need
To do well in Music GCSE, you need to be creative
and enthusiastic about listening to and learning
about different styles of music. You either need to
play an instrument to a reasonable standard, be
a singer or be dedicated to learning about music
technology (which is helped if you have some basic
keyboard skills). If you are interested in Music
GCSE and do not currently have instrumental
lessons, you are strongly advised to speak to Mrs
Hutchinson. Tuition is paid for by the school when
you commence the course in Year 10.
Music will require you to have good communication
skills and be able to work well with other students
and individually. You will need to be hard-working,
as compositions and performance take a lot of time
and effort to perfect, and be committed to improving
your instrumental or technology skills.
Mr D Damigella - Team Leader - Music
diego.damigella@attrust.org.uk
