Why Music?

FAQs about GCSE music

Each school has different criteria and approaches. Do talk to the Head of Music/Performing Arts to find out the specifics for your child’s school.

What standard do students need to have reached?

Ideally, they’ll need to be Grade 3 or 4 standard on an instrument (or voice) by the end of the course or have equivalent skills in music technology / digital music making.

Can a student take music if they’re not currently having instrumental lessons?

Ideally they’ll have lessons, but exceptions can be made if they’re at a high standard and practise regularly, particularly for vocalists. If money is an issue, ask your school about the financial assistance available.

Learning to play a musical instrument can be expensive, but there is support available for children and young from low- income backgrounds:
See www.musiceducationhub.org/site/parents-carers/funding-and-remissions/

What if my child doesn’t read music, having learnt by ear?

Schools will teach the skills required to succeed as part of the course. For the Performing and Composing units there are alternatives to using score notation – it is not a necessity.

What if students don’t play an instrument or sing, but use music technology, or rap/beatbox?

It’s still possible to take GCSE music, as these are all options on every GCSE music specification – but this will vary from school to school.

Would students be able to do A-level music if they don’t take GCSE?

Possibly. They are more likely to be able to if they continue learning music outside of school. However, the decision will ultimately rest with the Head of Music/Performing Arts, so talk to them to find out.

What does the course cover?

There are usually three main areas of study: Performance, Composition, Listening and Appraising. Students will learn about a range of types of music, including vocal, instrumental, music for film, pop, jazz, fusion, and new music.

• Performance

  30% of final score.
  Students give a performance for a minimum four minutes, including at least one minute of a group piece (ensemble playing).

• Composition

  30% of final score.
  Students create two compositions. In the first year of the course, they compose a piece of their choice. In the second, the piece is set by the exam board, usually from a choice of options.

• Listening and appraising/understanding

  40% of the final score.
  This is the only exam and is usually one and a half hours. Students are asked to listen to, and answer questions about, set works they’ve studied during the course. They then do the same for previously unheard pieces.

When will we need to apply?

Most schools have GCSE information evenings in the spring term of the academic year before students start their GCSEs. You’ll probably need to apply for the course in the Feb/March before the course starts.

Often, schools won’t know if they will have enough students to be able to run the course, until they have received everyone’s applications.

Where could GCSE music lead?

If students continue with their studies, they could choose from a range of different subjects.

They may choose to continue with music, by studying A-level or BTEC music or performing arts. But equally, they might want to study other subjects. Either way, choosing music at GCSE will have benefited them because it provides transferable skills.

If students don’t want to study music beyond GCSE, it is still a smart choice.

It can open doors to a range of education and employment pathways in:

• Music

  Being a musician isn’t the only career in music – other options include being a sound technician, community musician, music therapist, teacher, or private tutor, or a range of careers in the music industry, in a concert hall or music venue.

• The arts/creative industries

  This might include work in film, TV, theatre, radio, arts administration, or creative education.

• Professions such as medicine, law, accountancy

  Music is highly regarded as an academic subject and so could complement your other studies in leading to a professional career.

• Any other pathway a young person might choose

  GCSE Music provides a range of transferable skills that will provide a good foundation, whatever pathway your child chooses.

  Students in Wiltshire have gone on to many and varied pathways following GCSE music, ranging from primary school teacher to mountain leader!

Myth busted: Music does not stop you getting into a profession such as law or medicine.

FAQs about A-level music

Each school has different criteria and approaches. Do talk to the Head of Music/Performing Arts to find out the specifics for your child’s school.

What standard do students have to have reached/what qualifications do they need?

Generally, students will need to have GCSE music at grade 5 or 6 (eg B grade) or equivalent (eg BTEC level 2, Rockschool, etc). There may be exceptions – for example if they’ve achieved a high standard on their instrument, but couldn’t choose music GCSE because of subject clashes.

Ideally, they’ll be Grade 4/5 standard on an instrument (or voice) and be able to reach Grade 6/7 by the end of the course.

Myth busted: Your child DOES NOT have to have reached Grade 8.

Is it essential to have instrumental lessons?

Ideally they’ll have lessons, but exceptions can be made if they’re at a high standard and practise regularly, particularly for vocalists. If money is an issue, ask your school about the financial assistance available.

Learning to play a musical instrument can be expensive, but there is support available for children and young from low- income backgrounds: See www.musiceducationhub.org/site/parents-carers/ funding-and-remissions/.

What if students don’t read music, having learnt by ear?

Reading music is a core skill required by A Level Music courses, particularly for the Listening & Appraising unit. Many schools will allow a student who can’t read music to take A-level but may put in early steps to build this skill quickly. The Composing unit does not require students to work with notation, as sequencing software such as Logic Pro can be used instead.’

What if students don’t play an instrument or sing, but use music technology, or rap/beatbox?

For some A Level courses, the Performance unit can be be achieved using music technology or rap. However, this will vary across schools, so we advise that you check first. It might also be worth considering A Level Music Technology or BTEC Level 3 Music which may be more suitable.

What subjects will it go well with?

Music is very mathematical in nature, and so Music and Maths complement each other well, so do Music and Languages – after all, music is a language in its own right.

In fact, Music goes well with pretty much any subject and some people believe that studying music can actually enhance your grades in other subjects.

What does the course cover?

Details – including the percentage weighting of the different elements – may vary, depending on which exam board the school uses.

However there are usually three main areas of study: Performance, Composition, Listening and appraising

Students will learn about a range of types of music, including vocal, instrumental, music for film, pop, jazz, fusion, and new music.

• Performance

  30% of final score.
  Students give a performance of eight to twelve minutes (around three pieces) in the final year of studies. This can be a solo or group piece and include varied repertoire (eg different composers, a range of genres).

• Composition

  30% of final score.
  Students create two compositions. In the first year of the course, they compose a piece of their choice. In the second, the piece is set by the exam board, usually from a choice of options. Examples include: ‘Compose a theme and variations on a theme of x, y or z’; ‘Arrange a song for a choir at a wedding.’

• Listening and appraising/understanding

  40% of the final score.
  This is the only exam and is usually two hours. Students are asked to listen to, and answer questions about, set works they’ve studied during the course. They then do the same for previously unheard pieces and may be asked to complete a score for one of the pieces.

When will we need to apply?

Most schools have A-level information evenings in the autumn before students start their A-levels. You’ll probably need to apply for the course in the January before the course starts.

Often, schools won’t know if they will have enough students to be able to run the course, until they have received everyone’s applications. Even then, they may not know until the August GCSE results.

The more people that apply, the more likely it is that the course will run.

Where could A-level music lead?

It could lead to a Music degree. Here’s what Oxford University says about theirs:

The varied nature of the course enables students to develop highly desirable skills in areas such as self-management, creativity, data analysis, performance, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication, all of which makes them an attractive prospect for potential employers... other popular destinations for Music graduates... include broadcasting, publishing, law, politics and the Civil Service. Rather than limiting your career prospects, a music degree opens doors to a wide range of careers.

If you don’t want to be a musician or study music at University, A-level music is still a smart choice.

It can open doors to a range of education and employment pathways in:

• Music

  Being a musician isn’t the only career in music – other options include being a sound technician, community musician, music therapist, teacher, or private tutor, or a range of careers in the music industry, in a concert hall or music venue.

• The arts/creative industries

  This might include work in film, TV, theatre, radio, arts administration, or creative education.

• Professions such as medicine, law, accountancy

  Music is highly regarded as an academic subject and so could complement your other studies in leading to a professional career.

• Any other pathway a young person might choose

  A-level music provides a range of transferable skills that will provide a good foundation, whatever pathway you choose.

Myth busted: Music does not stop you getting into a profession such as law or medicine.