I heard @ school today that if you have a grade 5 instrumental whatever-you-call-it and grade 5 theory, you are automatically given a GCSE music... is this fact or fiction?

i might take GCSE music next year (i wish this applied to be but it doesnt , i just wanted to know)

Sounds like a complete fiction to me!

Perhaps your school requires either GCSE Music , or grade 5 theory plus grade e.g 5 practical before they will let you take the AS course? That would make the GCSE etc equivalent in your school's eyes.

Hey
Yep, I think it is equivalent to a GCSE, as grade 8 theory is equivelnt to A Level music.
I got Grade 5 theory distrinctinction, better get on with grade 8 now ha!! (doin A level now)

You're not "given" the actual GCSE - but I have been told that decent grade 5s on your instrument(s) and in theory set you up as well for A level as GCSE does.

It may be equal to grade 5, but you're not 'given' the GCSE...

..the GCSE covers loads more than grade 5 practical and theory offers, including world music, dance music and electronic music etc etc...

I'd recommend doing music - it's fantastic!! Good luck

Laura

Years ago, when I took O level music, that was accepted by the ABRSM instead of grade 5 theory if you wanted to take a higher instrumental grade. That might be what the person was thinking of. It isn't the case now - you've got to have Grade 5 theory (or jazz or practical musicianship - is that right?).

O level music involved a lot of music theory that isn't covered by GCSE music today. GCSE is, however, much more wide-ranging and covers many more musical styles and genres - it just doesn't have the theory content of the old O level. My daughter's taking it - she recorded her group performance today - I think it went OK!

Sorry from personal experience I have to disagree with this. These two qualifications test very different things, although they do overlap. I have both and I think in general I got more out of the A Level but more specialist knowledge from the theory paper.

Or perhaps they require you to be at Grade 5 theory and/or Grade 5 on an instrument before they'll let you do GCSE!!!!!

The two qualifications are different to my knowledge (we looked into it a couple of years ago). Some colleges allow students to do AS without GCSE Music if they have 5 Theory and 5 Practical.

My eldest opted no to do it in the end mainly because in her school she would have been the only fluent reader. My youngest wants a career in music so may have to do it. I don't think it's a prospect she's looking forward to as she's getting very bored and she's only in year 8. She is not relishing the prospect of playing London's Burning on guitar today.