Music

What is the nature of Music at IGCSE level?

A vibrant musical education fosters curiosity and openness to both familiar and unfamiliar musical worlds. Through learning and participating in the study of music we are able to explore the similarities, differences and links in music from within our own culture and that of others across time. At SJI International students’ learning and active musical engagement allows them to become informed, reflective and critical practitioners in music, to explore and value the diversity of the music across time, place and cultures and develop confidence and experience as a performer.

What is the approach to learning?

IGCSE Music occurs twice a week and the lessons are divided into an Analysis & Context class and a Composition class. Students will learn how to identify all the musical elements of a piece of music by both listening to it as well as reading and analysing a score. The IGCSE course enables students to acquire and consolidate a range of basic musical skills, knowledge and understanding, through the activities of listening, performing and composing. It will:

• Help candidates develop a perceptive, sensitive and critical response to the main historical periods and styles of Western music

• Help candidates to recognise and understand the music of various non-Western traditions, and thus to form an appreciation of cultural similarities and differences

• Provide a foundation for the development of an informed appreciation of music

• Provide a foundation for further study in music at a higher level

Because the course is also performance based, students are expected to have a tutor for their chosen instrument (this can be either an instrumental teacher from the ITP program run at school, or a music teacher outside of school) and should practise on their instrument/voice independently and regularly outside of school.

What is the subject content?

Students will follow the Cambridge IGCSE course, which is subdivided into the following three basic components: Listening, Performing, and Composing.

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i) Unprepared listening: aural awareness, perception and discrimination in relation to Western Art music of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th-Century periods, and Identifying and commenting on a range of music from cultures in different countries. To give an example, in 2019 the unprepared World Music was from African & Arabic, Latin American, Indian, Indonesian and Japanese traditions.

ii) Prepared listening: The prepared listening, knowledge and understanding of one Western art music set work and one Prescribed Focus from a non-Western culture (Carribean Music - for 2020). For 2020, Candidates will study Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K467.

2. Component 2: Performance

Candidates must offer (i) and (ii):

(i) Singing or playing individually (either one piece or two short contrasting pieces, which may be on the same or on different instruments); and

(ii) Singing or playing in an ensemble

Some performances will take place in school time. However, the learning of an instrument/voice by personal tuition until the prescribed grade III or IV standard is attained is the responsibility of the students. It is a requirement at SJII that the pupil is involved in at least one extra-curricular musical ensemble at school.

3. Component 3: Composition

Candidates must submit two compositions. These compositions should be either contrasting in character or written for different forces. One composition must be written in a Western, tonal style and must demonstrate familiarity with the basic principles of traditional harmonic language. This composition must be fully notated using staff notation and the score must be submitted with a recording. The second composition may be notated in whatever form of notation is appropriate to the music. Music students at SJII have access to one of the most comprehensive Music Technology facilities in Singapore.

What is the nature of assessment?

Component 1 Listening - 40%

This Component is based on CD recordings supplied by Cambridge. The extracts or pieces played will be from a wide range of styles and traditions. The questions test understanding and perception of the music. Candidates are expected to follow any complete or skeleton scores or diagrams provided. All questions are compulsory and will require either short answers or will be in a multiple-choice format.

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In Sections A, B and C, candidates may be asked questions relating to rudiments, melody and rhythm, harmony (including recognition of chords, keys and cadences), ensembles, instruments and instrumental effects, structure, compositional devices, texture, style or genre, as appropriate to the music.

Component 2 Performing - 30%

Component 2 consists of prepared performances of the candidate’s own choice, all of which must be recorded.

Component 3 Composing - 30%

Candidates submit two compositions, contrasting in either character or written for different forces, which must be recorded onto CD.

Notation may be either handwritten or computer generated, but all scores must be accurately edited.

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