Examination Board: Edexcel

The GCSE Music course at the Fine Arts College is a comprehensive programme of study designed to equip students with a solid grounding in all areas of music. The course also prepares them for study at Advanced level.

Students study the four main areas of performance, composition, music history and aural skills. They are taken through four stylistic and historical areas of study which include:
Area of Study 1: Repetition and contrast in Western Classical Music 1600-1899
Area of Study 2: New directions in Western Classical Music – 1900 to the present day
Area of Study 3: Popular song in context
Area of Study 4: Rhythms, scales and modes in music from around the world

The course also includes 16 topics for listening and appraising, and composition or arrangement:
_ ground bass, variations, ternary form or rondo
_ serialism, minimalism, experimental music, or electronic music
_ 12 bar blues, reggae, club dance remix or songs from musicals
_ gamelan music, Indian raga, African drumming, or music which draws together at least two different cultures
e.g. bhangra, folk rock.

For assessment purposes, students are required to do three performances over the course, including one solo, one ensemble and one performance of a composition they have written (30%). They are also required to submit two compositions or arrangements chosen from the topics given above (30%). There is one 90 minute written paper in the summer examination series, which involves listening to a CD and answering questions about the music they hear (40%).

The course caters to a wide range of abilities and interests. The expected minimum standard for performing is approximately Grade Four.