Exam Board: AQA Specification 4272
Qualification
Music GCSE is structured into five Areas of Study, which students will explore through performing, composing, and listening and appraising activities.
The five Areas of Study are:
AoS1 Rhythm and Metre
AoS2 Harmony & Tonality
AoS3 Texture & Melody
AoS4 Timbre & Dynamics
AoS5 Structure & Form
These will be explored through three Strands of Learning:
a) The Western Classical Tradition
b) Popular Music of the 20th and 21st centuries
c) World Music
Assessment
The scheme of assessment will require students to demonstrate aural perception, musical knowledge and understanding and communication through the following skills:
- Unit 1: Listening and Appraising Music (20% of total marks)
- Unit 2: Composing and Appraising Music – one composition which is based on the strand of learning: The Western Classical Tradition (20% of total marks)
- Unit 3: Performing Music – one solo and one ensemble performance (40% of total marks)
- Unit 4: Composing Music – explores two or more of the five Areas of Study. This may be in any style or genre of the candidate’s choosing. (20% of total marks)
Entry requirements
Instrumental or vocal skills
For more information on this course, please go to http://www.aqa.org.uk/