GCSE MUSIC

Parent Forum

Outline • Exam Board AQA 4270

• 2 Performances 40%

• 2 Compositions 40%

• Listening Exam 20%

Composition

• Unit 2 20%

• 10% Composition. This is set by the exam

board – for exams in 2017 the strand is

Wester Classical Music . • 10% Appraisal. Under controlled conditions,

students write an essay about their

composition discussing what makes it a

successful piece of music.

• This unit will be done in Year 10, by May half-

term 2016.

Composition

• Unit 4 20%

• Free composition. Can compose in any

style/genre the student chooses.

• This unit will be done in Year 11 from

September to November.

Marking scheme

20 –17

• The composition is musically stimulating, interesting and satisfying.

• The candidate demonstrates the successful and imaginative creation of musical ideas in relation to the Areas of Study and strand.

• There is a sense of completeness in the music and there is evidence of development of the musical ideas.

• Writing for instruments, voices and sound sources is idiomatic.

• The score is accurate and contains detailed performance directions appropriate to the chosen style of the music.

Marking scheme

12 –10

• The composition is largely effective.

• The candidate demonstrates some understanding of the musical ideas in relation to the Areas of Study and strand.

• There is a competent handling of the musical ideas.

• Writing for instruments, voices and sound sources demonstrates some understanding of the techniques required.

• The score shows some accuracy but may contain some omissions and/or inaccuracies.

Marking scheme

6–4

• The composition works but at a basic level.

• The candidate demonstrates a basic understanding of the musical ideas presented in relation to the Areas of Study and strand.

• There may be some incoherence in the handling of musical ideas.

• Writing for instruments, voices and sound sources appears simplistic and may lack finish.

• The score shows inconsistencies and is not accurately presented.

Preparation

• Students have been completing short tasks

covering different composition skills.

• They have been learning how to use Logic Pro

X and Sibelius software.

• They will shortly be given a longer

composition task to complete using the

computers.

Deadline May Half-Term • By 27th May, all students need to have

completed the first draft of their

composition. All tracks need to have been

recorded into Logic X or Sibelius.

• Over half term all the compositions will be

marked, and tips on how to improve will be

given. They will have term six to make

corrections before we create the score and

write the appraisal.

Extra help

• Students are welcome to come and use computers at lunch time and after school every day. Miss Teager is available after school every Friday 3-4:30pm to help with the composition.

• Students that find recording their compositions difficult will have the benefit of Andy Skittrall to help compose and record their compositions.

Performance 40%

• In Yr10 each student will record 3 solo

performances

• The student will then pick the best

performance for their final 20% assessment

• Performance homework every week

• Students need high expectations

Ensemble Performance – Year 11

• This is worth 20% of final grade

• Already working in class on ensemble skills

– What makes a good performance?

– How can the group improve?

• Start recording process in September 2016

• All recordings to be completed by end of

November 2016 [in time for the Mock exams]

Listening Exam

• Worth 20% of final grade

• 1 hour listening exam in May 2017 [Year 11]

• Year 10:

– Learning all the music terminology

– Learning music theory needed for the exam

• Year 11:

– Create revision materials

– Practise exam questions

REVISION

• I do t eed to re ise; it s a usic e a !

• Revision cards for each topic

• Flash cards

• Spider diagram

• Create own aural quiz

• Defi itio Do i oes

• Ho ca the fa il help?

• Theory class – leading to Grade 5 examination [Fridays 8.00 am.]

BEYOND MUSIC GCSE?

• A Level Music

• BTEC – Level 3 – subsidiary diploma in

Musical Performance [2 year course]

• CAREERS IN MUSIC

USEFUL WEB SITES

• BBC Bitesize

• www.rockschool.co.uk

• trinityrock.trinitycollege.co.uk

• www.abrsm.org

• www.gcsepod.co.uk/login

• www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/gcse/

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