Music GCSE Options Information

What is the main aim of the course?

The GCSE Music course aims to develop well rounded musicians, who have a breadth of knowledge across a wide variety of musical styles and genres, by combining work on listening, composing and performing.

What will you learn?

The syllabus comprises of four areas of study:

AOS1 - Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910

(Coronation Anthems and Oratorios of Handel; The Orchestra Music of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven; Piano music of Chopin and Schumann; The Requiem of the late Romantic period)

AOS2 - Popular Music

(Music of Broadway 1950s to 1990s; Rock Music of 1960s and 1970s; Film and Computer Gaming Music 1990s to present; Pop music 1990s to present)

AOS3 - Traditional Music

(Blues music from 1920–1950; Fusion music incorporating African and/or Caribbean music; Contemporary Latin music; Contemporary Folk music of the British Isles)

AOS4 - Western Classical Tradition since 1910

(The orchestral music of Copland; British music of Arnold, Britten, Maxwell-Davies and Tavener; The orchestral music of Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók; Minimalist music of John Adams, Steve Reich and Terry Riley)

These are explored through a variety of listening, composition and performance activities throughout the two year course. You will study set works from each area of study as well as a broad range of other music relevant to each.

How is the course assessed?

Listening/written exam - 40% of the GCSE - this covers the four areas of study - unfamiliar music and set study contextual understanding

Solo and ensemble performances - 30%

Composition - two compositions, one free choice and one to a set brief - 30% of final grade.

How does this course connect to the world of work and allow students to reach ambitious destinations?

The GCSE Music course allows students to really develop their research and analysis skills when exploring the listening; to develop their independence and confidence through the solo and ensemble performances, as well as exploring their creativity through composition.

These skills are not only useful for music, but can easily be transferred to a wide variety of situations and scenarios.

There are many career paths into the music industry and this course leads well into further education courses such as RSL Music Practitioner, which we run in W6 Sixth Form at SRWA.

Who do you need to contact if you have any further questions about this course?

Ms Laura Fauvel, LFauvel@srwa.woodard.co.uk.