Hello,

I am interested in studying Music GCSE. However, there is simply no institution for many miles of me (NE Hampshire, UK) which offers this to adults - apparently you have to be still in school to take this subject! It is also not available as a distance/corresp course, presumably because of the practical aspect.

So, I've decided to forget the idea of an exam/qualification and just follow the course myself, checking the syllabus for requirements and doing the appropriate study/coursework and working on the performance aspect. It won't be marked, of course, but I will have done the work involved.

The reason for all this is because I feel my musical knowledge is rather lacking (especially in those aural questions in the ABRSM exams) and I would like to know more. There are A Level courses, which adults are apparently allowed to do (although in my area I would still have to join a bunch of teenagers at a sixth-form college to do it!). I am considering joining an A Level course, but would prefer to have the knowledge, if not the qualification, of GCSE behind me first.

Can anyone who has taken/is taking the course advise me which board they used and what aspects they liked/disliked about it? I have looked at the websites of Edexcel and OCR and am trying to see what there is to choose between them. I appreciate any help or comments!

Fred