GSCE Music (UK) some info please

Fergie Fulton · #1 11-07-2011, 01:43 PM

Hi i need some basic info on the GSCE Music course being used in todays schools.

In brief, i have just had a call from a parent that tells me a horror story of an education system that seems to be flawed.
Her son is sitting his GCSE Music as Electric Guitar as his instrument. With his exams now coming up he has to compose and write out a short composition and play it. But he has to do it on Sibelius, problem is he does not have the musical knowledge to notate, let alone the understanding of Sibelius as a programme. It seems his school does not understand Sibelius either, have no technocal support for it, or he has even had tuition in how do use it.

Now this is a basic Music qualification and as such it seems that he is going to fail because he cannot comply to using Sibelius to represent his composition.
Points i have beed told;
1/ he must compose the piece no longer than 4 mins on Sibelius in school time.
2/ he is allowed no outside help to do so.
3/ he not allowed to bring in any notes or written notation, as this may be viewed as outside help.
4/ he is not allowed to prepare and download any of his work to take away and work on
5/he has to enter standard notaion using a mouse in Sibelius to show what he has composed.

Can anyone confirm or deny his info?

It seems shocking to me, if this is the case, that this is how a school expects to judge and quantify a students abilities, when the first hurdle is he cannot use the software option being forced on him. I have no idea of what the schools musical programme does involve, but GSCE is a national exam so it should be standard throuout England ( Scotaland, Wales, and N. I may be different, if so in what way please) so the things i am being told are national and not just the whim of a school that is out of its depth.
Thanks
Fergie

aidan784 · #2 11-07-2011, 02:06 PM

That sounds about right from what I did, albeit 3 years ago. My entire GCSE was basically a farce though, I could barely read by the end of it.

I'm massively ashamed to say I used tab for one of my compositions on sibelius though, and I now detest that that's possible and acceptable.

In fact re-reading your post there is a difference, my compositions on sibelius were completely separate from my performance exams. I remember 'composing' a relatively hard guitar solo and the teacher just said that it had to be possible to play (by anyone, not me). I did 2 covers on guitar for my performances, one solo one ensemble.

I also had little teaching on how to use sibelius, it was just a case of being left to it and experimenting. But now I think about it the teacher had quite heavy involvement in editing others' work.

Could be different exams or the syllabus may have changed slightly.

Fergie Fulton · #3 11-07-2011, 02:59 PM

I will be in contact with the MU in the morning to find out what their stance is in this and if in fact this is a fair way to run exams.

I just need to check the facts as i have been told, and find out if this is in fact sylibus wide and any others have suffered by this terrible restriction of teaching/learning music.

I take it you did ABRSM exams to at least grade 4 or above, if not then what reason was given for this failure to have you sit them?
Or was it the case you were never taught, entered or even told of their existance?

I am trying to understand what is going on here.

**bassybill** · #4 11-07-2011, 03:24 PM

This info does not sound in line with GCSE music requirements that I would expect. For example, the EdExcel spec is very clear that compositions and or arrangements may be submitted in a range of formats - including hand written, chord charts, track diagrams for a DAW - whatever. Either the school in this case is doing something weird or you haven't been given the full story.

http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocu...-2-for-web.pdf

I don't think the MU will help at all as this is not really anything to do with them.

**bassybill** · #5 11-07-2011, 03:30 PM

I think it's good that you're taking an interest on this student's behalf, but be careful you don't jump to some pretty unjustified conclusions about an imaginary national crisis in music education as this would be a real over-reaction, imo.

Rob Lewis · #6 11-07-2011, 03:41 PM

Mmmm, interesting. When I studied music (1970's) reading, Grade5 and above, was expected. I recently had a job installing computer systems for students with dyslexia, and of the ones studying music, who were supplied with Mac/Sibelius/Logic and a whole host of other goodies, only one could read and even he said that he was far from fluent. Has this been suddenly dumped on him, or has he been trying to learn to read sheet music?

Fergie Fulton · #7 11-07-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

I think it's good that you're taking an interest on this student's behalf, but be careful you don't jump to some pretty unjustified conclusions about an imaginary national crisis in music education as this would be a real over-reaction, imo.

Cheers Bill, the reason i am checking out facts other than those i have been given is to find out what is really happening. The MU has a clear policy on teaching ( well private teaching) of what is allowed and acceptable through the broad spectrum of education these days that is available. As i am making more time in my life for teaching these days, this was brought to my attention by a parent, so i am following it up before i make any sort of comment back to them, or even approach the relevent education authority/board if there is a case to answer.

@Rob, from what i have been told this was all put on him with no background or foundation, he has just been told this is how it will be. I find it increadulous if no attempt to teach him SN or how to use Sibelius has been offered, how they expect him to pass the exam.
I hope to talk to him personally and get his side and judge for myself what is going on sometime this week.
But as i like to research and do my homework so to speak, i do not want to be blind sided by any one view on this matter, hence this post looking for opinions.
I done my basics in 73 and 74 (went through ABRSM 1-4) then 5-8 between 75-77 which for my school was a first as i was being fast tracked. But my curriculum was geared to give me tools that allowed me to function not hinder...as this seems to be.