GCSE Music
GCSE Music
Online and live GCSE Music courses NOW AVAILABLE
NEW FOR 2025!
Helen holds a PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate of Education) from UCL Institute of Education, gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in 2001. As a former Deputy Head of Music, she is now taking online students for GCSE Music who can now enter as candidates through an independent examination centre in London. Lessons are currently £100 per term, an additional fee which will be required by the examination centre which currently costs around £280.
If you play a musical instrument or sing up to at least grade 4 standard and you have a good background in music theory - you should seriously consider taking GCSE Music! The course outline is listed below, with the appraising (listening) examination held during the summer term.
GCSE Music is available to students as 1 or 2 year course in duration.
As this is a distance-learning qualification and as part of the JCQ regulations, the teacher has to observe initial composition ideas and the development of material to ensure authenticity of the coursework.
The examination board that we will be using is Pearson Edexcel.
Components of GCSE Music:
30% Performance - Minimum duration of 4 minutes
*1 solo performance
*1 ensemble performance
*Standard level marking is available to those at grade 4 level. To obtain the additional difficulty marks, performers must be of at least grade 5 level.
30% composition - Minimum duration of 3 minutes
1 free composition
1 composition from a brief set by Pearson.
40% Appraising
Section A:
6 of the 8 questions based on the set works
Melody/rhythm dictation
A question on an unfamiliar piece
Section B:
* Comparing a set text to another unknown piece and writing an essay.
Why take GCSE Music from home?
According to JCQ, The uptake for GCSE Music is on the decline (despite seeing an upward trend in 2024), with a 30% reduction in uptake since 2010 - around the time the government introduced the English Baccalaureate or "EBacc".
The EBacc was meant to be a tool to help students choose a balanced curriculum - but Music and Arts subjects are not part of this. Therefore, are they being shunned as part of the drive to improve a school's EBacc score?
GCSE Music classes often have low numbers of students in the class due to the nature of the course - you have to be a minimum of grade 3 level to take the course and often students are not prepared during Keystage 3 for this. Often schools do not run the course due to this and students often lose out. I have seen this in schools.
Students wishing to take another arts subject like Art or Drama - or another subject such as Food technology, P.E or Design Technology have a crushing decision to make.
Often music loses out to other subjects. I have seen this too!
How will the lessons be delivered?
Weekly lessons on Zoom. Regular email contact regarding the composition coursework element will be vital to ensure authenticity of any coursework.
How about class size?
Don't worry, you'll have small class sizes online and the teacher is ready to help. Handouts are also available.
Can I take GCSE Music early?
I am bound by a timeline set by the exam board. A rough outline for the examination year would look like this:
- September: Composing set to a brief set by the exam board
- April: All coursework has to be submitted for moderation
- June: Listening examination. This is 40% of the mark and will need to be revised in detail!
If you do wish to take GCSE in a year, this can be done but you'll be working hard to cover a lot of work. I am the type of teacher who also loves a challenge!
Where can I get more information?
Please contact Helen for more information on
helen . kentishsuzuki @ gmail. com