hey
ive heard that GCSE music grade B is equilavent to grade 5 music theory? is this still technically correct? *meaning i can use GCSE music instead of grade 5 theory to go onto grade 6 clarinet?*

recently passed grade 5 clarinet with 128 marks - merit

No you can't use GCSE Music as a substitute for grade 5 theory. You use either grade 5 theory, jazz or praactical musicianship to get on to grade 6 clarinet.

As my OU diploma did not give me exemption from grade 5 theory I would doubt it. It might work the other way around in that Grade 5 theory gives you the equivalent of a GCSE?

Nat and I posted at the same time....my doubts are correct!!

Especially since I suspect a rather large number of those with GCSE music barely even know note names and time values.. .

It's been a few years since I did my GCSE's, but it was no where near as difficult as grade 5 theory. Most of my class played drums or guitar, couldn't read music, didn't have lessons and still managed to come out with a C!!!!

Hmm, maybe it's just me who found Grade 5 theory easier than GCSE. I'm much better with note values, cadences, intervals etc rather than the listening tests, compositions and terminal tasks I have to do for GCSE. I got a distinction for G5 theory with about four months preparation, but I don't think I can get an A* for GCSE Music, that I've studied for the past 2 years. I think it's because theory is a written paper though.... I always do much better in written exams than listening ones, like the one for GCSE.

I agree, for me Grade 5 theory was so much easier than GCSE music but for most people, I think that the opposite is correct. Theory is quite mathematical though so it helps to be good at maths!

Have you had a music mock anakrron? I thought I was going to do so badly but I ended up getting 73% (A*) and coming top

I see what you mean about Maths.... I think I'm more of a 'mathy' person than a 'creative' person, so I find G5 theory easier than say, theory.

Oooh, well done! What board are you on? I'm on OCR. I haven't got mine back yet (did it last week), but yesterday I recorded one of the three performances and got full marks for that! Last year, I only got 52% for the listening paper, which was a low B () but after all the coursework/terminal task was added together I managed to scrape a low A. I really hope that my performance (30% of the total mark), written appraisal (10%) and terminal task (15%) will pull up my abysmal composition (20%) and listening exam (25%). Wishful thinking there though

I'm not particularly mathematical or scientific... I've managed to come top in my year on the first two modules of AQA GCSE maths though, lol. I'm struggling with the module 4 algebra coursework though! I do want to do maths at 6th form though. I'm fairly creative, nothing special, but I like using music to express myself. I think I'm best at languages and history.

I'm doing AQA music and am trying to work on my integrated assignment which is worth 25% of my grade. Well done on your performance mark, it's fantastic! I was playing in an orchestra and singing in choir at my music centre's Gala Concert last night and one of my school music teachers was recording the whole thing for GCSE performance coursework!!!!