Why study Music?

Music is all around us. It influences our moods and emotions and stimulates and excites us in many ways. Following this GCSE Music course will develop your understanding of how music is created through four Areas of Study.  These provide focus and detail of specific areas of music. In the course you will learn how to compose and develop skills in performing and appraising music. GCSE music is an interesting course in its own right or may lead to further study at AS/A level and beyond.

You will study:

* Traditions and Innovation, focusing on Salsa, Minimalism and Bhangra;

* Dance Music, focusing on Disco from the 1970s and 80s, the Romantic

* Waltz and the Elizabethan Pavan and Galliard;

* How to compose melodies;

* How to compose for, and perform on, your chosen instrument.

You will learn the following skills:

* Composing;

* Performing;

* Appraising.

All of these skills are interrelated and will be assessed.

Assessment:

The exam papers cover the full range of grades from G to A*. There are three aspects to your assessment.

Coursework

You will give a total of three performances (solo, ensemble and free choice) and produce two compositions. This will be worth 60% of your total marks.

Listening Paper (approximately 75 minutes, in CD format)

This paper is based on music that you have studied in the Areas of Study. You will answer questions on five or six extracts of music from the following areas: Elizabethan Pavan and Galliard, Romantic Waltz, Disco from 1970s and 80s, Salsa, Bhangra, Minimalism and different kinds of melody. There will be a mixture of multiple choice, structured and unstructured questions.

Terminal Task (30 minutes) Respond and Communicate