For the GCSE practical exam we have to play one solo piece, a piece we'v composed and one ensemble piece. WE can compose an ensemble piece and play it (so the same piece counts for 2 sections if u kno wot i mean!)

iv got my solo piece sorted, but its the ensemble piece im worried about. ...
I could play the piece Iv composed (but its serialsim and sounds terrible and the rythms are really hard)
or I could accompany someone else (it counts as an ensemble) but i havent actually sorted the piece or pracitsed it yet Does anyone know which i wud b likely to get higher marks in?
or does anyone know what exactly you get marks for in an ensemble piece?

Plsplspls reply asap the exams are on Monday and tuesday...
thnkooo

It would be hard to get a lot of marks for a serial piece since its difficult to be very expressive in your playing.
In an ensemble you get marks for keeping together and playing at appropriate dynamic levels so that certain parts can be heard. You also get more marks depending on the difficulty of the piece.

Hi, i'm doing gcse too. It's good that you got your solo out of the way because that accounts for a higher percentage of your total grade than the ensemble. For the ensemble i would not choose serialism because it's hard to co-ordinate a serialist piece in a group. Accompanying someone is a very good idea. Ideally you could find someone who doesn't play the piano and still needs to perform their solo. If the both of you perform together it could be counted as your ensemble but your partner's solo (that is what i did and we got 24.5/25 ). Hope this has helped! Good Luck!

I think for an ensemble piece most of the marks are geared towards how you relate to the other people/person in the ensemble. If you're accompnaying them it would be how you followed them, how you brought out the important parts of the accompaniment at the right times, how you gave them a nod when they had to come in etc. Obviously you have to play the right notes etc, but being musical and acting as part of an ensemble rather than treating it as a solo performance is the main thing.

Thankyu guys soooo much!!! Thanks for the advice it really helped me...so I've decided to accompany my friend (whos guna play the violin) on the piano.

soz iv got another question....Im thinking of playing a grade 2 violin accompament and my friend is playing the grade 2 piece. Its really easy and thats kinda why i chose it(i hav 2 learn it in a weekend!)
....my friend is grade 7/8 on the violin and im grade 7 on the piano so d;u think we should choose a harder piece to get more marks? or doesnt it rally matter?

Thanks again guys ur so helpful!!!