GCSE Music for 2016 - an introduction

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Guide to GCSE Music (first teaching in 2016) The following pages provide an overview of the drafts submitted to Ofqual for the new GCSE Music qualifications.

We have produced an overview to help you start thinking about which Awarding Organisation’s new specification for GCSE Music will best suit your students and setting.

We will be updating this as the final documents are published.

Basic information The GCSE is a 2-year course of study, with an examination at the end. There are no requirements that a pupil must have achieved a certain level / standard to be able to undertake this course, which is good news for inclusion. This is specifically stated in the criteria from each awarding body that ‘it is open to young musicians from all backgrounds and offers opportunities to explore their own musical interests.’

The current grading of A* – G is changing to numerical grading of 9–1.

Grade 9 will be equivalent to A**,

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Grade 4 will be equivalent to a Grade C Grade 1 will be equivalent to a Grade G. In essence the marks awarded come from three ‘activities’: This is very similar in structure to the GCSE Music qualifications currently being studied for.

Component

Weighting (% of total marks)*

Performing music (ensemble is compulsory) 30% Composing music (one piece to a brief set by awarding body, one piece to a brief chosen by the candidate) ‘Testing’ pupils’ knowledge and understanding of music and their ability to listen to of appraise music through a written examination *These weightings have been fixed by Ofqual

30%

40%

Assessment Internally assessed, externally moderated Internally assessed, externally moderated Externally marked

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Areas of study In line with Ofqual requirements, each awarding body has selected a minimum of four areas of study, all of which are examined. An additional Ofqual requirement is that at least one of these relates to the Western Classical tradition with music mostly taken from the period 1650 to 1910.

The areas of study are used in a variety of ways by the awarding bodies. The commonality is that all ‘examine’ the areas of study through the written / listening examination, taken at the end of the course. Some of the awarding bodies specify ‘set works’; others suggest a list of recommended listening / study or a combination of both.

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Proposed areas of Study and set works

AQA

Western Classical tradition 1650-1910

*Haydn: Symphony 101 in D major The Clock, movt. 2

Popular Music

The Beatles: Sgt.Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – the following three tracks:

With a Little Help from my Friends Within You, Without You Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Santana: Supernatural – the following three tracks:

Smooth Migra, Migra Love of my Life.

Traditional Music

Western Classical Tradition since 1910 Instrumental music 1700-1820 Pearson Edexcel

OCR

WJEC

Vocal music Music for stage and screen Fusions My instrument The Concerto through time Rhythms of the World Film music Conventions of pop Musical forms and devices (Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910) Music for ensemble Film music Popular music

Aaron Copland: Saturday Night Waltz and Hoedown from Rodeo J S Bach: 3rd Movement from Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major H Purcell: Music for a While S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of the cast recording of Wicked) Afro Celt Sound System: Release (from the album Volume 2: Release)

Suggested repertoire, no set works

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Movement 3, Minuet: Mozart (1787) Suggested repertoire, no set works Suggested repertoire, no set works Since You’ve Been Gone: Rainbow (released 1979)

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L van Beethoven: 1st Movement from Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor ‘Pathétique’ Queen: Killer Queen (from the album Sheer Heart Attack) J Williams: Main title/rebel blockade runner (from the soundtrack to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) Esperanza Spalding: Samba Em Preludio (from the album Esperanza)

1. Performing / realising music (30% of marks) •

This is internally marked and externally moderated.

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The performances can take place any time during the final year of the course.

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The teacher must be present in order to verify the performance, but this does not have to take place in school. Audio recordings must be submitted.

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All candidates are required to perform a minimum of two pieces. These do not have to be on the same instrument.

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Some boards allow performance of a candidate’s own composition to count towards the performance component. Others do not.

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One ensemble performance per candidate is compulsory. The requirements for the other piece vary between the boards (most expect solo and ensemble).

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Some awarding bodies allow more than two pieces to be marked as part of the performance component.

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The minimum duration for the portfolio of pieces presented by a candidate is 4 minutes.

If it is less than 4 minutes, zero marks will be awarded.

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The minimum duration of the ensemble piece is 1 minute.

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Any instrument, voices, music technology, DJ-ing, MC-ing and realising using music technology are acceptable. Improvisation is also acceptable.

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There is variation in whether the awarding organisations expect the choice of repertoire to link to the areas of study.

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All awarding bodies have grids to ‘scale’ marks depending upon the ‘difficulty’ of the music performed/realised. Effectively these are:

o Below standard

(approx. grade 2 and below)

o Standard

(approx. grade 3)

o Above standard

(approx. grades 4-5)

Specific criteria about standards is set out for those using music technology to realise music or who are playing / singing less conventional instruments etc.

• •

Supporting documentation must be submitted in the form of a score, lead sheet, chord chart, annotation, guide recording etc. The requirements slightly vary between the awarding bodies.

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Performance requirements – an overview

Requirements

AQA 2 pieces: 1 ensemble 1 solo

Edexcel / Pearson Minimum of 2 pieces: 1 ensemble 1 solo (both must be a minimum of 1 minute duration)

OCR 2 pieces 1 ensemble 1 solo

WJEC Minimum of 2 pieces 1 ensemble other(s) can be solo or ensemble (max 3 attempts at the same piece)

Maximum suggested performance duration

7 minutes

Not specified

Not specified

6 minutes

Link to Areas of Study

No

No

No

One piece must link to an area of study

Marks awarded for:

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-technical control - accuracy and fluency - expression and interpretation

- difficulty - technical control and fluency - expression and interpretation

- technical control - expression and appropriate interpretation - accuracy of rhythm and pitch - appropriate pace and fluency - effective use of dynamics - stylistic awareness ‘empathy (in ensemble playing)

- level of demand - accuracy - expression and interpretation

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2. Composing music (30% of marks) •

This is internally marked and externally moderated.

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In line with Ofqual requirements, a minimum of two pieces must be composed.

o One piece must be to respond to a brief set by the awarding body. The awarding body must provide a choice of briefs.

o One piece must be left to the free choice of the candidate.

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All awarding bodies must offer a choice of brief.

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Briefs will be released by awarding bodies in September of the school year in which the course will be completed. Currently, release dates for these vary.

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In line with Ofqual requirements, each of the awarding bodies has set a minimum time duration of 3 minutes for the total length of the compositions. Some awarding bodies have also set a maximum duration as a guideline.

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Currently, the awarding bodies say different things about the awarding of marks should the total duration of compositions come to less than 3 minutes.

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All awarding bodies expect a recording of the pieces to be submitted. These do not have to be performed by the candidate and they are not marked for the quality of the performance, only the quality of the composition.

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One of the awarding bodies (AQA) awards marks for awareness of the composing process. All of the others award marks only for the final composition.

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A score or chord sheet is required, although this is not usually reflected in the mark awarded.

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Currently, some awarding bodies suggest that the composition to the brief set by the awarding body must be, in part, carried out under controlled conditions. Others do not specify this.

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Some of briefs set by awarding bodies link to areas of study. Those from AQA do not purposefully link.

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The briefs set by students need to be submitted with the recordings. Most of the awarding bodies ask for the occasion and audience to be defined, as well as ‘ther musical details’.

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Overview of composing requirements Two compositions (1 brief set by awarding organisation, the other by the candidate) Marks awarded for: AQA

Edexcel Pearson

• • • • • • • • •

Rhythm and metre Texture and melody Harmony and tonality Timbre and dynamics Structure and form Composing log Developing musical ideas Demonstrating technical control Composing with musical coherence

OCR

WJEC

• • • •

Creativity in response to the chosen brief Development of musical ideas Technical control of musical elements and resources Musical coherence and understanding

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Notes of the briefs This appears to be the only awarding body which awards some of the marks for the process – a composing log is required as part of the submission

Other requirements / points worthy of noting Briefs will include different stimuli including: Written words, poems or a piece of text Photographs images or film Notation

The draft specification does not mention these linking to areas of study

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There will be a choice of four briefs set by Edexcel

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These will relate to the areas of study

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The composition to a brief set

by OCR will be linked to an area of study.

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The free choice composition will be for the candidate’s instrument

There will be a choice of four briefs, one linked to each area of study.

Students must work on their compositions under controlled conditions for at least five hours. This must include the final write up of their compositions, and can include any research and development time.

Candidates will be required to respond to a brief using one of the following as a stimulus: A choice of two rhythmic phrases A choice of two note patterns A four line stanza of words A chord sequence A short story An image All secondary source materials, such as musical quotes or pre-composed samples, must be clearly acknowledged and any work which is not entirely that of the learner must be identified.

A composition log must be submitted.

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3. Listening / understanding / appraising (40% of marks) Each of the awarding bodies has a slightly different title for this section of the GCSE. It is the component in which a final examination will be taken at the end of the two-year course.

As defined by Ofqual, the knowledge and understanding is defined around musical elements, musical contexts and musical language. Each awarding organisation provides a detailed list of terms.

Musical elements

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melody harmony tonality form and structure dynamics sonority texture tempo rhythm metre

Musical contexts

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the purpose and intention of composers, performers and those who commission music

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the effect of the occasion, audience and choice of venue on the way music is composed and performed

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how music is created, developed and performed in different social, historical and cultural contexts reading and writing treble and bass clef staff notation in simple time

Musical language

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reading treble and bass clef staff notation in compound time

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chord symbols, e.g. G7

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key signatures to four sharps and flats

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musical vocabulary related to areas of study

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In line with another Ofqual requirements, this examination must include some examples of music which have not been studied as set works.

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AQA offers choice about the area of study chosen for the second part of questions on contextual understanding. This is based upon the study piece for this area of study.

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Listening/ appraising / understanding examination Total duration AQA

1hr 30 mins

Total marks available 96

Overview

Description

Additional points

Section A – listening (68 marks)

AQA have ‘created classroom performance editions of GCSE study pieces so they can be played by any instrument, in any combination.’

Section B – Extended response comparison between a set work and one unfamiliar piece (12 marks) Multiple choice, single or short answer, questions that require an extended response

Eight compulsory questions covering all areas of study – it will be based upon unheard works four sets of linked questions on the study pieces, two compulsory (one of these is linked to area of study 1) and the other based on an area of study of the candidate’s choice - Six questions related to 6 of the 8 set works - One short melody / rhythm completion exercise (worth 6-10 marks) - One question on an unfamiliar piece (skeleton score provided) with questions on its musical elements, musical contexts and musical language - one question that asks candidates to compare and/or evaluate the musical elements and musical language of one set work with one unfamiliar piece of music Examination based around: Musical elements Musical contexts Musical language

Eight questions in total. Six questions on unprepared musical extracts and two questions on prepared musical extracts (see above - Mozart and Rainbow)

Examination is designed for students to show knowledge and understanding of: Musical elements Musical contexts Musical language There are set works for AOS 1 & AOS4.

Section B - contextual understanding (28 marks)

Edexcel Pearso n

1hr 45 mins

80

OCR

1hr 30 mins

80

WJEC

1hr 15 mins

96 marks

Section A – Areas of study, dictation, and unfamiliar pieces (68 marks)

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Areas of study 2-5 will be examined: The Concerto through time Rhythms of the world Film music Conventions of pop Each musical extract will be linked to one of four areas of study: 1. Musical Forms and Devices 2. Music for Ensemble 3. Music for Film 4. Popular Music

Further information You can read the full draft specifications at the following links: Awarding body

Website

Draft specification location

AQA

www.aqa.org.uk

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/gcse/music-8271

Edexcel Pearson

www.qualifications.pearson.com

http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Music/2016/specificati on/Specification_GCSE_L1-L2_in_Music_May_2015_Draft_1_0_for_web.pdf

OCR

www.ocr.org.uk

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/219378-specification-draft-gcse-music-j536.pdf

WJEC

www.eduqas.co.uk

http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/gcse/WJEC%20Eduqas%20GCSE %20Music%20DRAFT%20Specification.pdf?language_id=1

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