• Registered: 2009-08-15
  • Posts: 16

Topic: Grade for music gcse?

does  anyone know what grade you have to be in an instrument for music gcse as i am going to get electric guitar lessons but i dont think there is much point if you have to be a high grade as i only have 1 year
thanks daiz11 smile

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Grade for music gcse?

Hi daiz11, I'm no expert and please don't take this as gospel, and also England may be different from Scotland, but I seem to remember something about being able to play 3 instruments. As I say, I could be wrong but that's what's ringing bells in my head.

Good luck with the lessons all the same.

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

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  • arkady
  • arkady
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  • From: England
  • Registered: 2006-11-23
  • Posts: 2,147

Re: Grade for music gcse?

Hi daiz11
Follow this link it tells you all need to know about taking a music GCSE
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/art … mp;prev=04
ark

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: Grade for music gcse?

What is gcse an abbreviation for? smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

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5 Reply by arkady (edited by arkady 2009-09-08 18:13:04)

  • arkady
  • arkady
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  • From: England
  • Registered: 2006-11-23
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Re: Grade for music gcse?

Russ it stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education
here in England a generic name for all subjects Theres O's and A's levels and others..
ark

  • From: A black hole in deep space
  • Registered: 2007-10-28
  • Posts: 7,865

Re: Grade for music gcse?

Thanks Ark we call it a GED (general education diploma) its a substitute for a high school graduation its almost a must if applying for a job smile

"Growing old is not for sissies"

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  • From: Cardiff, Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2008-08-25
  • Posts: 182

Re: Grade for music gcse?

If you follow the link given by arkady, you will see that music GCSE is a lot more than playing an instrument. You have to know theory, history, and be able to compose. Performance is 40% of the total mark. This is made up of half each of an individual performance and a group performance.
Some years ago it was possible to put forward your own grade 5 in an instrument as part of the assessment, but that is no longer possible.
The specification says that 3 marks (out of the 30 given for performance) are awarded for complexity of performance if that is equivalent to grade 5, 2 marks for grade 4, and 1 mark for grade 2 or 3.
So if your playing is not very good, you will lose some marks. What is interesting is that your performance can also be technology based.

My advice is to speak to a music teacher at the school, find out what syllabus they are doing and ask about the performance element and what your chances are, based on what you can already do.

  • Registered: 2009-08-15
  • Posts: 16

Re: Grade for music gcse?

thanks