Music at Key Stage 4

Course Syllabus
Exam Requirements
Extra Curricular
What can I do next with GCSE Music?
Meet The Department
FAQ's GCSE Music

Hello year 10/11 - welcome to the GCSE Music page! We have put together some handy information about the GCSE Music Course to let you know what it's all about. You will find information on the course structure and coursework requirements, along with lots of useful links to music related sites.You can also visit the Student Work page to listen to examples of work submitted by previous GCSE Music candidates.

We hope you find this site useful. If you have any comments or suggestions about things we could add please let Mrs Glover know.

OCR EXAM SYLLABUS GCSE music is about making and listening to music. It covers performing, composing and listening in a wide variety of musical styles – popular music, world music and classical music.

The Three Basics of the Course
Listening and Appraising:

Students will study musical periods and styles as well as music from different cultures. They will learn technical vocabulary to be able to respond to and discuss the music in detail. They will also develop the skills to compare contrasting performances of the same pieces. A wide range of music will be covered developing students' understanding and enjoyment of music.

Performance:

Solo performance and ensemble work on their instruments will continue throughout the year. Performance is part of the coursework requirement and students will have to present a piece of work at regular intervals, solo or ensemble. At the end of the year there will be an assessment, and this work could form the basis of the performing coursework module. Support for this can be either through an instrumental teacher - either external or through Warwickshire Music Service.

Pupils often ask if they can take GCSE music even though they do not take instrumental lessons. The answer is YES, however we strongly advise pupils to participate in an ensemble or apply for lessons as performance is a large part of the course.

To apply for instrumental lessons at school, click here

Composition: Composition forms part of the coursework and students start this in Year 10. At school we are very fortunate to have Sibelius software that pupils will use to create their final two coursework compositions in Year 11. Some of the composition work in Year 10 will be undertaken in groups, but the final submissions must be individual work. Examples of past coursework will be available on this site soon! For a full OCR syllabus breakdown, click here

The Exam Requirements

Pupils have to perform 2 pieces, one is a solo and the other one must be in an ensemble of at least one other person. In an ensemble the person who is being marked must be the only one playing/singing that part. A solo performance may have an accompaniment – it does not have to be a literal solo. All performances will be recorded and submitted in this way.

2 compositions will be submitted; one of these will relate to topics studied as part of the course (in the syllabus these are Area of Studies 3 and 4) and one will be related to the instrument you play. All composing will be recorded and printed using Sibelius.

At the end of the course there will a practical test requiring both performing and composing skills. This is referred to in the syllabus as the Terminal Task.

There are four Areas of Study which link together the performing, composing, Terminal Task and the final written paper.

These Areas of Study are:
1. Exploiting the Resource. The “resource” is the pupil’s main instrument (including voice as an “instrument”) and “exploiting” it means studying three pieces for that instrument, performing one of them and composing a piece based around ideas from the three pieces studied. The three pieces should have some common link between them: a particular style, some aspect of technique, a particular mood, etc.

2. Techniques of Melodic Composition. The various methods of composing melodies will be studied and the technical language associated with this will be learnt. Questions will be asked about this in the written exam and the practical application of this knowledge will be used in the Terminal Task.

3. Dance Music. Pupils will study dance music across four centuries and will focus on three specific dance types: • Elizabethan (Renaissance) Pavan and Galliard • 19th century Viennese waltz • 1970’s-style disco music

4. Traditions and Innovations. This covers several types of musical fusions which have occurred in the last one hundred years. Pupils should have some awareness of how different musical styles have been ‘mixed’ together and they will focus on three specific styles which mix ‘old’ (traditions) and ‘new’ (innovations):
• Salsa: a mix of traditional Cuban Son and American big-band jazz.
• Bhangra: a mix of Punjabi harvest music and Western pop music.
• Minimalism: a style of composing which mixes conventional methods of composing with technology or with ideas drawn from the use of technology.

The final written paper is an exam lasting just over an hour and consisting of questions which are all linked to the four Areas of Study. Questions will be based around extracts of music which will be played during the examination.

Extra-Curricular Music: Students can help themselves in any topic by finding and listening to a wide range of music outside lessons and involving themselves in the different ensembles available to Year 10 students. These include opportunities to play different instruments, jazz band, choir, concerts and shows. With the help of music staff, students are encouraged to form their own bands and groups.   What could I do next with GCSE Music? The GCSE course is good preparation for further musical study at AS/A level. You may wish to go into a job where it is useful to have had experience of music or where you will need to use some of the skills developed during this course. These might include careers in the music industry, publishing, entertainment and teaching or any job which involves communication and expressive skills. It might be that you just enjoy your music making and wish to show something for your hard work and determination. If so, music GCSE is the course for you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask us and we will do our best to answer them and sort out any problems. Meet The Department Click here to visit the staff. The Music department consists of 3 classroom teachers and 14 instrumental teachers who teach over 150 students in the school to support the department. The subject is taught as a separate subject through all key stages, but belongs to the new Expressive Arts Faculty. The department runs a very varied and exciting extra-curricular programme. All three members of staff and instrumental teaching staff work very hard to maintain and keep this programme varied and exciting. There are weekly-run activities including 2 Wind Bands, 2 Orchestras, Swing Band, 2 Brass Bands, Choirs, numerous rock bands plus a whole range of chamber groups, as well as Theory club, GCSE composition, Aural training and rock band workshops and recording sessions.