Music
Curriculum Aims
We aim for every boy to:
- be given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and experience a wide range of musical opportunities to ignite passion and stimulate their creativity;
- expand their understanding of the history and elements of music enabling them to cultivate a love for music and to experience the emotions that music provokes;
- be provided with opportunities to develop their presentation skills through musical performance inside and outside of the classroom as part of an ensemble or soloist;
- gain valuable life skills through the application of music by helping our students form opinions, evaluate and express their feelings, create ideas and learn how to react and adapt to positive and constructive criticism;
- develop resilience, perseverance and a positive growth mindset through the continual practice of music;
- leave West Hill with inspiration to continue their musical journey and knowledge of how to nurture their musical talents.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum Rationale
Qualifications
In years 10 and 11 our students study the AQA GCSE Music course. This course is assessed by a combination of non-exam assessments (60%) and a final examination (40%) at the end of Year 11.
Students are required to perform two pieces of music on their chosen instrument (30%). They are also required to compose two original pieces of music using relevant music software (30%).
The final written exam requires students to listen to a variety of different musical genres, recognise characteristics and use key vocabulary to answer the questions. In addition, they will be required to answer questions on the study piece of music which is set by the exam board (40%).
Due to the nature of the course, students need to be able to play a musical instrument, and an understanding of some music theory and notation is beneficial.
Summary of Assessment
Component 1: Understanding Music
- Written exam paper in two sections:
Section A – Listening to excerpts of unfamiliar music and answer questions related to what they hear (68 marks)
Section B – Questions related to the allocated study piece set by the exam board (28 marks)
- The exam is 1 hour 30 minutes
- This component is worth 40% of GCSE marks
Component 2: Performing music
- Students perform and record two pieces of music on their chosen instrument:
Performance 1 - Solo performance (36 marks)
Performance 2 - Ensemble performance (36 marks)
- This is a non-exam assessment (NEA). Students’ performances will be internally marked and externally moderated by the exam board.
- This component is worth 30% of GCSE marks
Component 3: Composing music
- Students compose two original pieces of music using the computer software available:
Composition 1 – Composition to a given brief by the exam board (36 marks)
Composition 2 – Free composition (36 marks)
- This is a non-exam assessment (NEA). Students’ compositions will be internally marked and externally moderated by the exam board.
- This component is worth 30% of GCSE marks
Where can I find more details?
GCSE Music 8271
Subject Guides for Parents and Carers
Music during Years 7, 8 and 9
Music during Years 10 and 11
