Guide to GCSE Music (first teaching in 2016)

The following pages provide an overview of the drafts submitted to Ofqual for the new GCSE Music qualifications.

We have produced an overview to help you start thinking about which Awarding Organisation’s new specification for GCSE Music will best suit your students and setting.

We will be updating this as the final documents are published.

Basic information

The GCSE is a 2-year course of study, with an examination at the end. There are no requirements that a pupil must have achieved a certain level / standard to be able to undertake this course, which is good news for inclusion. This is specifically stated in the criteria from each awarding body that ‘it is open to young musicians from all backgrounds and offers opportunities to explore their own musical interests.’

The current grading of A* – G is changing to numerical grading of 9–1. Grade 9 will be equivalent to A**, Grade 4 will be equivalent to a Grade C Grade 1 will be equivalent to a Grade G.

In essence the marks awarded come from three ‘activities’: This is very similar in structure to the GCSE Music qualifications currently being studied for.

Component Weighting (% of total marks)*

Assessment

Performing music (ensemble is compulsory) 30%

Internally assessed, externally moderated

Page3

Composing music (one piece to a brief set by awarding body, one piece to a brief chosen by the candidate) 30%

Internally assessed, externally moderated

Page5

‘Testing’ pupils’ knowledge and understanding of music and their ability to listen to of appraise music through a written examination

40%Externally marked

Page7

*These weightings have been fixed by Ofqual

Areas of studyIn line with Ofqual requirements, each awarding body has selected a minimum of four areas of study, all of which are examined. An additional Ofqual requirement is that at least one of these relates to the Western Classical tradition with music mostly taken from the period 1650 to 1910.

The areas of study are used in a variety of ways by the awarding bodies. The commonality is that all ‘examine’ the areas of study through the written / listening examination, taken at the end of the course. Some of the awarding bodies specify ‘set works’; others suggest a list of recommended listening / study or a combination of both.

1Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Proposed areas of Study and set works

AQA

Western Classical tradition 1650-1910

*Haydn: Symphony 101 in D major The Clock, movt. 2

Popular Music The Beatles: Sgt.Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – the following three tracks:

With a Little Help from my Friends Within You, Without You Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Traditional MusicSantana: Supernatural – the following three tracks:

Smooth   Migra, Migra   Love of my Life.

Western Classical Tradition since 1910

Aaron Copland: Saturday Night Waltz and Hoedown from Rodeo  

Pearson Edexcel

Instrumental music 1700-1820

J S Bach: 3rd Movement from Brandenburg Concerto no. 5 in D major

L van Beethoven: 1st Movement from Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor ‘Pathetique’

Vocal musicH Purcell: Music for a While Queen: Killer Queen (from the album

Sheer Heart Attack)

Music for stage and screen

S Schwartz: Defying Gravity (from the album of the cast recording of Wicked)

 J Williams: Main title/rebel blockade runner (from the soundtrack to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)

FusionsAfro Celt Sound System: Release (from the album

Volume 2: Release) Esperanza Spalding: Samba Em Preludio

(from the album Esperanza)

OCR

My instrument

Suggested repertoire, no set worksThe Concerto through timeRhythms of the WorldFilm musicConventions of pop

WJEC

Musical forms and devices (Western Classical Tradition 1650-1910)

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Movement 3, Minuet: Mozart (1787)

Music for ensemble Suggested repertoire, no set worksFilm music Suggested repertoire, no set worksPopular music Since You’ve Been Gone: Rainbow (released 1979)

2Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

1. Performing / realising music (30% of marks)

This is internally marked and externally moderated.

The performances can take place any time during the final year of the course.

The teacher must be present in order to verify the performance, but this does not have to take place in school. Audio recordings must be submitted.

All candidates are required to perform a minimum of two pieces. These do not have to be on the same instrument.

Some boards allow performance of a candidate’s own composition to count towards the performance component. Others do not.

One ensemble performance per candidate is compulsory. The requirements for the other piece vary between the boards (most expect solo and ensemble).

Some awarding bodies allow more than two pieces to be marked as part of the performance component.

The minimum duration for the portfolio of pieces presented by a candidate is 4 minutes. If it is less than 4 minutes, zero marks will be awarded.

The minimum duration of the ensemble piece is 1 minute.

Any instrument, voices, music technology, DJ-ing, MC-ing and realising using music technology are acceptable. Improvisation is also acceptable.

There is variation in whether the awarding organisations expect the choice of repertoire to link to the areas of study.

All awarding bodies have grids to ‘scale’ marks depending upon the ‘difficulty’ of the music performed/realised. Effectively these are:

o Below standard (approx. grade 2 and below)

o Standard (approx. grade 3)

o Above standard (approx. grades 4-5)

Specific criteria about standards is set out for those using music technology to realise music or who are playing / singing less conventional instruments etc.

Supporting documentation must be submitted in the form of a score, lead sheet, chord chart, annotation, guide recording etc. The requirements slightly vary between the awarding bodies.

3Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Performance requirements – an overview

AQA Edexcel / Pearson OCR WJECRequirements 2 pieces:

1 ensemble1 solo

Minimum of 2 pieces:1 ensemble1 solo(both must be a minimum of 1 minute duration)

2 pieces 1 ensemble1 solo

Minimum of 2 pieces1 ensembleother(s) can be solo or ensemble

(max 3 attempts at the same piece)

Maximum suggested performance duration

7 minutes Not specified Not specified 6 minutes

Link to Areas of Study

No No No One piece must link to an area of study

Marks awarded for: - level of demand- accuracy- expression and interpretation

-technical control- accuracy and fluency- expression and interpretation

- difficulty- technical control and fluency- expression and interpretation

- technical control- expression and appropriate interpretation- accuracy of rhythm and pitch- appropriate pace and fluency- effective use of dynamics- stylistic awareness‘empathy (in ensemble playing)

4Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

2. Composing music (30% of marks)

This is internally marked and externally moderated.

In line with Ofqual requirements, a minimum of two pieces must be composed.

o One piece must be to respond to a brief set by the awarding body. The awarding body must provide a choice of briefs.

o One piece must be left to the free choice of the candidate.

All awarding bodies must offer a choice of brief.

Briefs will be released by awarding bodies in September of the school year in which the course will be completed. Currently, release dates for these vary.

In line with Ofqual requirements, each of the awarding bodies has set a minimum time duration of 3 minutes for the total length of the compositions. Some awarding bodies have also set a maximum duration as a guideline.

Currently, the awarding bodies say different things about the awarding of marks should the total duration of compositions come to less than 3 minutes.

All awarding bodies expect a recording of the pieces to be submitted. These do not have to be performed by the candidate and they are not marked for the quality of the performance, only the quality of the composition.

One of the awarding bodies (AQA) awards marks for awareness of the composing process. All of the others award marks only for the final composition.

A score or chord sheet is required, although this is not usually reflected in the mark awarded.

Currently, some awarding bodies suggest that the composition to the brief set by the awarding body must be, in part, carried out under controlled conditions. Others do not specify this.

Some of briefs set by awarding bodies link to areas of study. Those from AQA do not purposefully link.

The briefs set by students need to be submitted with the recordings. Most of the awarding bodies ask for the occasion and audience to be defined, as well as ‘ther musical details’.

5Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Overview of composing requirementsTwo compositions (1 brief set by awarding organisation, the other by the candidate)

Marks awarded for: Notes of the briefs Other requirements / points worthy of noting

AQA Rhythm and metre Texture and melody Harmony and tonality Timbre and dynamics Structure and form Composing log

This appears to be the only awarding body which awards some of the marks for the process – a composing log is required as part of the submission

The draft specification does not mention these linking to areas of study

Briefs will include different stimuli including:Written words, poems or a piece of textPhotographs images or filmNotation

EdexcelPearson

Developing musical ideas Demonstrating technical control Composing with musical coherence

There will be a choice of four briefs set by Edexcel

These will relate to the areas of study

Students must work on their compositions under controlled conditions for at least five hours. This must include the final write up of their compositions, and can include any research and development time.

OCR The composition to a brief set by OCR will be linked to an area of study.

The free choice composition will be for the candidate’s instrument

Candidates will be required to respond to a brief using one of the following as a stimulus: A choice of two rhythmic phrases A choice of two note patterns A four line stanza of words A chord sequence A short story An image

WJEC Creativity in response to the chosen brief

Development of musical ideas Technical control of musical

elements and resources Musical coherence and

understanding

There will be a choice of four briefs, one linked to each area of study.

All secondary source materials, such as musical quotes or pre-composed samples, must be clearly acknowledged and any work which is not entirely that of the learner must be identified.

A composition log must be submitted.

6Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

3. Listening / understanding / appraising (40% of marks)Each of the awarding bodies has a slightly different title for this section of the GCSE. It is the component in which a final examination will be taken at the end of the two-year course.

As defined by Ofqual, the knowledge and understanding is defined around musical elements, musical contexts and musical language. Each awarding organisation provides a detailed list of terms.

Musical elements melody harmony tonality form and structure dynamics sonority texture tempo rhythm metre

Musical contexts the purpose and intention of composers, performers and those who commission music

the effect of the occasion, audience and choice of venue on the way music is composed and performed

how music is created, developed and performed in different social, historical and cultural contexts

Musical language reading and writing treble and bass clef staff notation in simple time

reading treble and bass clef staff notation in compound time

chord symbols, e.g. G7

key signatures to four sharps and flats

musical vocabulary related to areas of study

In line with another Ofqual requirements, this examination must include some examples of music which have not been studied as set works.

AQA offers choice about the area of study chosen for the second part of questions on contextual understanding. This is based upon the study piece for this area of study.

7Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Listening/ appraising / understanding examination

Total duratio

n

Total marks

available

Overview Description Additional points

AQA 1hr 30 mins

96 Section A – listening (68 marks)

Eight compulsory questions covering all areas of study – it will be based upon unheard works

AQA have ‘created classroom performance editions of GCSE study pieces so they can be played by any instrument, in any combination.’Section B - contextual

understanding (28 marks)four sets of linked questions on the study pieces, two compulsory (one of these is linked to area of study 1) and the other based on an area of study of the candidate’s choice

EdexcelPearson

1hr 45 mins

80 Section A – Areas of study, dictation, and unfamiliar pieces (68 marks)

- Six questions related to 6 of the 8 set works- One short melody / rhythm completion exercise (worth 6-10 marks)- One question on an unfamiliar piece (skeleton score provided) with questions on its musical elements, musical contexts and musical language

Section B – Extended response comparison between a set work and one unfamiliar piece (12 marks)

- one question that asks candidates to compare and/or evaluate the musical elements and musical language of one set work with one unfamiliar piece of music

OCR 1hr 30 mins

80 Multiple choice, single or short answer, questions that require an extended response

Examination based around:Musical elementsMusical contextsMusical language

Areas of study 2-5 will be examined:The Concerto through timeRhythms of the worldFilm musicConventions of pop

WJEC 1hr 15 mins

96 marks

Eight questions in total. Six questions on unprepared musical extracts and two questions on prepared musical extracts (see above - Mozart and Rainbow)

Examination is designed for students to show knowledge and understanding of:Musical elementsMusical contextsMusical languageThere are set works for AOS 1 & AOS4.

Each musical extract will be linked to one of four areas of study: 1. Musical Forms and Devices 2. Music for Ensemble 3. Music for Film 4. Popular Music

8Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

Further information

You can read the full draft specifications at the following links:

Awarding body Website Draft specification location

AQA www.aqa.org.uk http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/music/gcse/music-8271

EdexcelPearson

www.qualifications.pearson.com http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Music/2016/specification/Specification_GCSE_L1-L2_in_Music_May_2015_Draft_1_0_for_web.pdf

OCR www.ocr.org.uk http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/219378-specification-draft-gcse-music-j536.pdf

WJEC www.eduqas.co.uk http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/music/gcse/WJEC%20Eduqas%20GCSE%20Music%20DRAFT%20Specification.pdf?language_id=1

Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information

9Keep checking www.ism.org/gcse for more information