Music

40% EXAM

60% COURSEWORK

EXAM BOARD: OCR

Assessment of work:

Students are assessed verbally throughout the GCSE course when both the teacher and their peers give feedback and positive criticism of their performances or compositions. The compositions are completed in lesson time under informal controlled assessment. The Listening and Understanding exam is the final summative assessment at the end of Year 11. Students work towards this exam by completing practice exercises that are marked together and the answers reflected upon by the group. Students regularly perform at school concerts to further develop their performing skills and to build their confidence. Compositions are performed, annotated and recorded throughout the course as a record of progress made. Again, students are given feedback that is taken from the Assessment Guide developed by the exam board.

Further study:

Students can go on to study A level Music and/ or A level Music Technology.

Music GCSE is an enjoyable and exciting way to consolidate and advance a thorough understanding of a wide range of musical styles and cultures. It is creative course that is designed to suit all young musicians no matter how eclectic their taste. GCSE Music students need skills on an instrument or voice (around Grade 5 level by the second year of the GCSE course) and an understanding of Music Theory (working towards Grade 3 prior to the start of the course). Any instrument and style of playing is acceptable. Students must take instrumental and vocal lessons, in or out of school, and be willing to attend Music Theory sessions to supplement the work done in class and develop the skills necessary to access the course content.

Unit 1: Listening and appraising (40%)

• 1 hour 30 minute Exam

Paper with listening exercises using excerpts of music.

Unit 2: Performing (30%)

• Performance 1: Solo performance (15%) • Performance 2: Ensemble performance (15%)

Unit 3: Composing Music (30%)

• Composition 1: Composition to a brief (15%) • Composition 2: Free

Composition (15%) Candidates are required to contribute to some of the many extra-curricular musical activities in the school. This is a direct and enjoyable way to polish musical skills and broaden musical experience, as well as being a requirement of the exam.