What you will learn

Understanding Music

Pupils will be required to show their understanding* of musical excerpts listened to in the exam chosen from the four areas of study:

The Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910

Popular Music

Traditional Music

Western Classical tradition since 1910

Identifying and describing musical elements (Melody, Articulation, Dynamics, Tempo, Structure, Harmony, Instruments and Voices, Rhythm, Texture and Sonority) using appropriate technical vocabulary.

Pupils will be required to practice and perform an appropriate solo piece (where the music is written either for a solo instrument or voice, or for a voice or instrument with accompaniment). The work is assessed by calculating how successfully the pupil has interpreted the composer’s intentions (in terms of accuracy, expression and interpretation).

Pupils will be required to write 2 compositions, one in each year of the course. The first will be composed to a brief created by the pupil and the second selected from a choice of briefs offered by the AQA Board. Both compositions will be accompanied by a 150 word programme note outlining how the ideas have been generated and developed for a specific audience and venue in order to create the piece. The combined duration of the 2 compositions should be over 4 minutes.

Music GCSE specification enables pupils to pursue their interest in performing, composing and understanding music as a subject.

Increasingly, employers and universities are looking for young people who have skills that are learned through creative subjects: creative thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, communication and tenacity to name just a few.

In GCSE Music, students will develop transferable skills. The course involves written, analytical, practical and social/personal 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

• 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