GCSE Music at BISC is lively and stimulating, offering many opportunities to collaborate, improvise and perform. Students opting to take this subject must already play an instrument or take voice lessons.

At a glance - What is the GCSE Music course about?

GCSE Music covers three main areas of expertise: appraising, composing and performing music. Candidates will study a wide range of styles and genres including popular, world and classical music. There will also be opportunities to gain skills in music technology.

Who will enjoy this course?

Students will enjoy GCSE Music if they are interested in:

• Creativity 
• Working with others
• Listening to all kinds of music
• Playing in ensembles such as bands, choirs or rock groups, and taking part in workshops or competitions
• How computers are used in music
• Understanding the relationship between music and society

How does it follow on from Music in KS3?

Students have already gained experience of composing and performing in a variety of different styles and genres. They will now build upon their knowledge by learning more about how various kinds of music came into being, and how and why they were written or performed. 

The Edexcel GCSE Music Course Content

Component 1 - Students undertake an engaging study of eight set works, designed to nurture in-depth musical understanding. This encompasses the classical repertoire, popular styles, music from stage and screen, and musical cultures from around the world. 

Component 2 - Students perform together and strive to raise the standard of their own instrumental/vocal work. 

Component 3 - Students create original music of their own, often using software as a tool to aid the process.

Assessment

The majority (60%) of the examination grade is based on successful coursework. This means that students will have a chance to refine and improve their work as they go along, before submitting it for final assessment. The areas assessed in this manner are:

Performance (Controlled assessment) 30%

Candidates will need to play one solo piece and one ensemble piece. These need not be performed on the same instrument. 

Composition (Controlled assessment) 30%

Candidates will create two original compositions, of their own choice.

The Examination (40%)

In addition to the coursework, candidates will sit one Listening Examination, which will take place at the end of Year 11. They will complete a 90 minute paper which will be based upon the eight prescribed set works. Questions on this paper typically ask candidates to aurally identify instruments or features of an extract of music, or to express opinions backed up by musical reasoning.

The Student Perspective

"GCSE music is an extensive course, covering everything from theory and performance to composition. This course is a test of your discipline, time management, communication skills and perseverance. 

Theory is the hardest component of the course for most people. It involves gaining an in-depth understanding of how music works, then using this skill to analyze eight pieces of music, all from different backgrounds and genres, to understand what makes them sound like they do. Your understanding of theory is essential to completing compositions and performances to the highest standard you can. Your final written exam, which makes 40% of your grade, is completely dependent on your theory skills. Because it is so important, I recommend focusing on perfecting your knowledge starting at the beginning of the course. I managed to get through music theory by paying attention and doing regular revision to strengthen my knowledge. 

Performance makes up 30% of your mark. By the end of Year 11, you should be recording two performances to submit, one solo and a second group performance. This is where playing an instrument is absolutely essential to doing well. This can be anything from your voice to the drums, and if you can’t already play an instrument, it would be a good idea to start taking instrumental lessons either in or out of school! Personally, already playing an instrument helped a tremendous amount in the course. GCSE music also gave me the time to refine and perfect my skills. If you already do play an instrument, this course is the perfect opportunity to get better at it, along with widening your perspectives on music. The group performances I worked on for myself and with my classmates has also helped me improve my teamwork skills. 

The final 30% of your grade is your composition. You need to write two pieces of music, for any instrument, about anything you want it to be about. It seems intimidating at first but all you really need is a solid understanding of theory, patience, perseverance and being willing to take risks. Writing a piece of music is incredibly rewarding, and really allows your creativity to shine. Composition takes a while, so be sure to find time to complete your work and you will do perfectly fine. 

Doing music at GCSE level is a great entry to exploring your musical abilities, and will make you a more well rounded student. A lot of the skills you gain can be used to improve your performance in other subjects. The course also changes your understanding of music and exposes you to music and culture from around the world. 

My overall experience with the GCSE music was definitely positive. It just requires prioritizing and recognizing that it needs a lot of work. It is not an easy pass and you need to be able to dedicate time and effort to do well in it."

Mansour El Kerdany