It's just i know several piano buddies who play brilliantly but have refused to do GCSE music as they keep bluntly saying "I can't compose".

i have done GCSE music and loved it. i didnt like the composing part as much as i acnt compose but thats life!

Maybe but i really hate composing though so im not to sure

I'm doing GCSE music too but having problems with composing too...

I'm going into year10 and am going to be doing GCSE music. Im really looking forward to it, especially the performing part, not so sure about composing!

I am starting it in september. I cannot wait!!

i've done it...i dunnn like the world music and some other bits...it drives me mad... i'm waiting for my result by the way....

I did GCSE music last year, I've just done my AS levels (results on thursday!) but I didn't do music unfortunately. I loved GCSE, performing and composing especially. Lots of you are expressing doubt about composing, but don't worry about it! The requirements for GCSE are rather low and you'll have fun doing it. At my school we had a lot of freedom and I composed different things from a jazz piece to an egyptian styled piece to a full blown piano sonata! I got an A* in the end and was very pleased. I'm sure you will all do the same.

hi all...i would like to ask if gcse music is the same as gce music?

QUOTE (piano_and_me @ Aug 18 2004, 06:14 AM)

i would like to ask if gcse music is the same as gce music?

it's very obvious that the syllabus will be different and yet is more focus...and a bit...diverse.... u take music further in gce...even the titles of the exams has already suggested that it's different...

I reckon it depends on the teacher. One of ours is good, the other is not. One allows you freedom, the other doesn't. Sometimes I wish I hadn't taken it.

GCE is the AS and A2 exams whereas GCSE is just, well, GCSE.
I'm waiting for my GCSE result too- only 1 week to go now!!!
I loved the composing and finished my submissions within a month of starting the course (we did it in one year) but the performing drove me insane!

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I reckon it depends on the teacher. One of ours is good, the other is not. One allows you freedom, the other doesn't. Sometimes I wish I hadn't taken it.

We had two teachers too- one was pretty good and made sure that we knew everything and the other seemed to be on another planet and just talked about random things that were nothing to do with music for the whole lesson, then gave out a lot of worksheets at the end... It is surprising that some teachers are like this isn't it?

i took it 2 years ago. im going into year 13 and doing A level music.

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hi all...i would like to ask if gcse music is the same as gce music?

GCE ( 'O' Level) is the exam we had before they introduced GCSE.

When I was at school they were only just beginning to change over.

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not so sure about composing!

i think to be able to compose you need to feel posistive about what your doing, having a negative attitude abuot composing before even startin the course will enevitably lead to poor compositions...... thats my POV on the matter anyway

ive just done GCSE music (OCR) and im waiting for the results!!! i think the course is what you make of it. some people will find it hard others wont! if your one of the people who doesn't find it hard, make it hrder for yourself, do extra compositions more complex compositions/pieces, there is no rule in the books about doing extra work or harder pieces, make the nost of your course especially if you plan on doing the GCE. it will help!

jaime

Too late now to do GCSE music

darn i shouldve took it when i was in year 10!

For the answers to the GCE/GCSE question, look here and here and here!!!

i just finished Higher Music which is almost the same level as gcse although i think the sylabus may be different. but thats the scottish equivelant anyway, i got an A, and am now doing Advanced Higher Music, along the lines of A level music i think. its the next step up from higher, after that is university.

i found composing quite difficult- got a B for it, definitely my weakest area. but in the long run i think people should try it and look at the advantages of having the qualification rather than refusing to do it because of one aspect they think they cant do - at least if they try they can get as much help as possible.

i hope i'll get a good grade for composing...

I am taking GCSE Music, and for various reasons we are behind on the course and haven't started any coursework or World Music or anything. (Argh!). However, I think that it is a good subject to do overall and that composing helps if you have done Grade 5 theory or have played for a number of years.

I decided not too as I was getting bored in my music lessons at school because they were teaching basic things like how to read music, and I'd already done grade 5 theory so my piano teacher said that it would just cover things that I had already done, and there were so many other options i wanted to take I couldnt fit them all in. I've ended up doing russian as an extra subject (with school teacher but in out of school time, still taking the GCSE exam in school though)

I had a similar situation that made up my mind. I'd just taken Grade 5 practical and theory, couldn't stand the teacher, and was reluctant to be in a class with the other people in my year who I knew were considering music as an option.

It made it even harder when I realised I was only actually able to choose two of my subjects, and when I waa trying to decide whether to do Spanish, Media, History, Geography, Ceramic or Music , it was History and Geography that one.

The funny thing is that I'm not actually planing to do either of these two next year~ but as the college has completely trashed my timetable (as in all my subjects clash, and they didn't tell me till a few weeks back, and then refused to discuss it till I got my results "Because you might find your results change what you want to do anyway dearie" kinda thing~ erm, I think not as I shouldn't get anything less than a B in any of my subjects!!

Sorry to rant~ its just this has been worrying me rather, and it makes the waiting for my results even worse!

im doing gsce music and i have to say it really is a bore , especially the composition. im finding composition the hardest out of what we have to do (doing AQA syllabus). what do we gain from composing a piece of music, not meaning to be rude but WHAT ON EARTH IS THE POINT? ok, we have to know a bit of theory before we sit down to write it but when are we ever going to need composition skills in the world of work, part from if we turn out to be song writers and composers? why dont any of the exam boards put the history of music into one of the gcse music syllabusses? this would be more beneficial as it would increase our enjoyment of music as we would have a bit of background to the composers, and the different styles of music. (this would also help us in performing) i think i would be more likely to use knowledge gained from studying music history rather than composition...

okay okay...i see ur point...just calm down....

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am taking GCSE Music, and for various reasons we are behind on the course and haven't started any coursework or World Music or anything. (Argh!).

Don't worry- my course was only a year long anyway so we were much in the same boat... and I just got my result- A*!

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we have to know a bit of theory before we sit down to write it

None of the people I know who have done GCSE music knew much theory.
One composition I saw had so many basic writing faults in it you wouldn't believe it! Even had sticks on the wrong side of the notes.
I know it will not be the case everywhere but those I know of are somehow expected to write compositions without having learnt the basics of writing (or reading) music.
And many only manage to get them down on paper with the aid of music software (mentioning no names).

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WHAT ON EARTH IS THE POINT?

LOL!!!! someone has a real problem with composistion. i think what you sed is quite nasty. some people actually take composistion seriously and would be really offended to hear you say that. it would be like someone saying to you what is the point of performing??

well think of it this way! if nobody was taught to compose then what would you play?? yes music history will help you understand the music, but learning techniques of composistion would allow you to appreciate and enjoy the music soo much more because you can understand the techniques and aspects of composing. music is a whole sunject, withour appreciating all aspects you will never get the full benefits of the subject.

and another thing is you have to do it!! unless you want a big fat C for your results! so learn to love it for your own benefit if only to pass your exam!

jaime

I took gcse music in yr9 wen i wunt doin any other gcses 2 gt it out the way. I really enjoyed the composing n did most of it at home wer thers no distractions.I found it hard 2 compose bt 1nce u gt a small idea thn it bcums easy nd jus fits in2 place-jus fink of a short melody first nd work the rest around tht.or thts wot i did.

i did GCSE music , and got an A. i really liked the composing part! its nice to hear a piece of music that you wrote! ive just done As level and got a (very high!) B, and i am about to do A level. I think composing is a good idea, but maybe not for some people!

I did music GCSE back when I was 16 and have to say that (generally) I loved it. Not many did the course, so everyone got on very well and the teachers were all a good laugh too.

As for composing, you just need to sit down, put notes on the page and see if they sound right, if not, change them. Maybe best to start with something fairly easy such as a hymn tune which just generally uses a progression of chords with the odd note in-between.

Just do what you think sounds right, at the end of the day they aren't looking for grand sonatas, just to see that you have a firm grip on musical theory and that you can string a few notes together, but then again I enjoyed composition so I might be a bit biased!!

Hope my humble opinion helps, just do what sounds good.

Matt

P.S. Got an A* but that was 6 years ago!!

hi, im not taking gcse music and i kinda regret it. when i took my options a year ago i was goin through a patch with piano where i just lost interest for a bit so i didn't take gcse music. Some of my mates hate it and others love it. I've seen some of the stuff they're doing and although it looks hard it sounds like a lot of fun, although im getting mixed views from other people.

I'm starting GCSE music in September.

im doing it, and i find its my worst nightmare, i was told it should b quite a breeze for me cos im so good at the performance side but composing .. i hate it and wish i never took it. i say to those who think theyll enjoy it .... think again!

I'm right in the middle of doing GCSE music. Examzs next year yikes!!! I like composing and I'm not so bad at it, its the performing bit I can't do. I get really nervous easilyso it's going to be tough doing the solo and performing my composition.
Luv ya all
xxx

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im doing it, and i find its my worst nightmare, i was told it should b quite a breeze for me cos im so good at the performance side but composing .. i hate it and wish i never took it. i say to those who think theyll enjoy it .... think again!

No!!! Don't be put off!!! It was the best thing I did last year!!! You must take it!!! I loved it!!!

please don't worry about performing...it's dead simple...to be honest...it doesn't require u to be a diploma person..

oh.........u know...my history is one mark off an A*....... so annoying...

I've just started doing GCSE music.

Car Expert

I did fast track music in year 10 and got A*

I did GCSE Music last year. Didn't properly start the course til the January before the exam but with 2 people in my set including myself, and both of us were pretty good at it! Both got A*s Doing AS Music now, A2 Mod 4 if I can do it in the summer! Mod 1 tommorow *sobs*

Im glad I took it. It's an easy GCSE and I love all the compositions i've done!

I'm not taking GCSE music, I figured music is my hobby, not my obsession.

There is no option for "Did you do GSCE Music?"

Yes I did. Looking back, perhaps I should have done History or something as I didn't really learn anything in Music. OK, it was an easy A*, I suppose, but that's not really the point, I guess...

I did GCSE but this is more or less the reason I've decided not to do Dip..because music is a hobby and something to enjoy not a potential career or something to stress endlessly about.

I'm choosing my options at the moment and I am planning on taking music

I'm going to take it. I'm going to love the composing part but hate the theory part. I can never remember the terms and all that stuff.

im the complete opposite to you noodelz i love music gcse, i have no regrets in picking it

I really want to do it!

Its amusing reading this post, because I was very interested given that I have no idea what GSCE music comprises of! I understand from what I gather from reading English books where the characters take GSCE that its a British education system, but thats all.


By the way, I live in New Zealand. Yes, its on the other side of the world. We do NCEA or Cambridge exams here if anyone's interested....

Heya!

I didn't take GCSE music mainly because I was worried about the composition, my class was huge and didn't really know anyone in it and otehr options I wanted to do.

However, I'm now doing AS level music, they let me in luckily!, and loving it, the class is much smaller, and am actually really enjoying composition. I am also a pianist and used to be one who bluntly said I 'can't compose' as the first post mentioned. But after churning out some quite a bit of rubbish and realising what period I know what I'm doing with best (late romantic) I've settled on that for my final composition. I think the place to start is to be brave and improvise around a couple of chords on the piano, only real instrument where you can truly do this and have complete control!

Don't regret not doing GCSE music for a minute as came to a decision to go further with music independantly because of it, instead of parents trying to push me into it as they did with GCSE.