Music
Overview
Music helps learners to develop subject knowledge, understanding and skills, through listening to a variety of music, playing music and creating their own Music.
Year 7 & 8 topics include:
- A wide range of topics are covered at year 7, from basic Singing, Keyboard and Instrumental skills to African Drumming.
- The Blues and Film Music are covered in Yr 8. The history of one of society’s most popular art-forms is explored to ensure that the context beyond the art is embedded.
Year 10 & 11 topics include:
GCSE Music is split into three separate areas which are assessed on Listening and Contextual Understanding elements.
- Section A: Listening – unfamiliar Music(68 marks)
- Section B: Study pieces (28 marks)
The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
This component is worth 40% of GCSE marks (96 marks)
Performing music is assessed through one instrumentalist and/or vocalist and/or via technology in two areas:
- Performance 1: Solo performance (36 marks)
- Performance 2: Ensemble performance (36 marks).
A minimum of four minutes of performance in total is required, of which a minimum of one minute must be the ensemble performance.
This component is 30% of GCSE marks (72 marks).
Non-exam assessment (NEA) will be internally marked by teachers and externally moderated by AQA. Performances must be completed in the year of certification.
Composition is assessed through:
- Composition 1: Composition to a brief (36 marks)
- Composition 2: Free composition (36 marks).
A minimum of three minutes of music in total is required with the component is 30% of GCSE marks (72 marks). Non-exam assessment (NEA) will be internally marked by teachers and externally moderated by AQA.
GCSE Music offers a solid foundation for progression to other music studies, including A-level Music, and often to a music-related career. Our course provides the opportunity for learners to develop valuable transferable skills such as self-confidence, concentration, creativity, evaluation and team work
Extra Curricular opportunities
- Outside of lesson time there are opportunities to engage in musical activities such as extra-curricular instrumental lessons, music club, school radio and performances in a variety of school and non-school events.
- Starting Autumn 2018 groups of learners are learning the skills required to create a podcast or radio show using specialist technical equipment, gaining an Arts Award in the process, through Huddersfield Contemporary Music Society. This provides a fantastic platform to see how music is an integrated part of everyday life and develops team-building skills in addition to specialised knowledge.
