Page 27 - Year 10 Course Brochure 2023-2025

MUSIC

OPTION

COURSE CONTENT The Music IGCSE course enables students to learn about and consolidate a range of
musical abilities through listening, performing and composing. Students will explore
a wide range of styles, both Western and from around the world, with performing
and composing skills embedded in the learning activities. Students will connect
their instrumental or vocal experience from outside the classroom to the IGCSE
course, offering opportunities to deepen their understanding. Throughout the
course, students will be encouraged to develop critical and perceptive responses to
the main styles of Western instrumental and vocal music. Students will also learn to
recognise and understand the music of selected non-Western traditions, including
Latin American, Chinese, Indonesian and African music, and thus to form an
appreciation of cultural similarities and differences.

APPROACH TO TEACHING During the course you will have a mixture of creative practical and analytical theory
AND LEARNING lessons. You will learn about different styles of music side by side, making links
between topics that may at first seem unrelated. In every topic you will explore
context through discussion, develop listening skills, complete performance work
and compose. You will work on your own and in groups to explore key terms linked
to the topics through practical work. Sometimes you will play your instrument(s)
and at other times you will use Logic and Sibelius software on the Mac computers.
Music is a subject that requires you to have an open mind and a curiosity for other
times and cultures. You will want to develop a broad set of skills, both academic and
practical.
ASSESSMENT This course is assessed through final exam (40%) and coursework (60%).
Final exam: this is a listening exam. Questions are based on extracts or pieces from
a wide range of historical styles and world traditions, including set works.
Coursework: students will perform as a soloist and in an ensemble towards the end
of Year 11. Students will compose a portfolio of two contrasting compositions, one
written in a Western tonal style, the other in any style of their choosing.

FURTHER INFORMATION All students will be expected to perform at a minimum of grade 3 standard and will
be expected to have vocal or instrumental lessons to help with this. An ability to
read music will be an advantage. Music award holders are required to opt for this
course.

EXAM BOARD AND 0978
SPECIFICATION www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/
cambridge-igcse-music-9-1-0978/

CONTACT Mrs K Barry
Director of Music
barry.k@millfieldschool.com

YEAR 10/11 COURSE GUIDE 25