Music GCSE is for those students who enjoy playing music, performing music, listening to music and composing music.
We will follow the AQA GCSE syllabus in which 40% of the overall marks are based on the student’s ability to perform. There is no performance exam as performances can be recorded and submitted at any point during the year. Performances can be on an instrument, a drum sequencer and even rapped!
The other 60% is gained from the composition of 2 original pieces of music and 2 listening exams based on the following 3 strands; Western Classical tradition, Popular Music of the 20th and 21st Century and World Music.
The following grid shows a break down of the four units that you study.
Unit title and description |
Assessment |
Weighting |
GCSE Music Unit 1 Listening to and Appraising Music In this unit candidates develop their understanding of the organisation of sound by listening to numerous excerpts of music throughout the year. They will examine the following 5 areas:-
They will also be explored through the following 3 musical strands:-
|
1 hour listening and written paper |
20% |
GCSE Music Unit 2 Composing and Appraising Music Students must compose a piece of music linked to two or more of the 5 areas of study and one of the 3 musical strands. You can use Cubase and Reason or more traditional methods. |
Composition of 1 piece Appraisal of piece (2 hour exam) |
10%
10% |
GCSE Music Unit 3 Performing Music Candidates must submit 2 recorded performances. One must be an individual or technology based performance and the other must be a group performance Individual Performance Students can choose from one of the following options:-
Group Performance This performance must feature the student with at least 1 other performer.
|
A recording of the performance
A recording of the performance |
20%
20% |
GCSE Music Unit 4 Composing Music Students must compose one piece of music which explores 2 or more of the 5 areas of study. You can use Cubase and Reason or more traditional methods. |
1 musical composition |
20% |
For more information please see Mr Wright in the music department
