4th and 5th Form Studies Guide - Aiglon College

What can I do after I’ve completed the course?If you enjoyed the GCSE Music course then you can consider pursuing this subject at IB level, with a possible aimto study music at University level. Your listening skills will enhance the aural perception needed in languageexaminations. Your performing skills will give you confidence in playing to an audience – useful if you intend topursue, for example, drama or law.Frequently asked questionsQ: Is it all Classical Music and all about Beethoven and Mozart's life and works?A: No. The GCSE Specification includes classical music, modern music, popular and world music. Musical factscovered will always be related to your coursework.Q: How good do I have to be at playing an instrument?A: The GCSE specification says that the student does have to have private instrumental lessons to achieve a highperformance grade. Some familiarity with the keyboard is also quite important, however, since this is the primarymeans of feeding data into the computer for MIDI sequencing. You must be prepared to practice your GCSEmusical instrument on a regular basis.Q: Do I have to be able to read music?A: No, you don’t have to, but it does help significantly, as does already playing an instrument.Q: I am used to solfège or American terminology. Does this matter?A: No, not at all. The exam board has made it quite clear that it will accept answers in either solfège or Britishor American systems, as long as the system chosen is used consistently throughout to prevent ambiguity.Aiglon 4th and 5th Form Studies Guide 2013-14 20