GCSE Music enables students with a particular passion for music to further develop skills and knowledge integral to academic and enrichment purposes.  The course foundations are the core disciplines of performing, composing and listening/appraising. There is an extremely broad range of styles covered: from Western classical traditions through to modern styles of popular music.

Students follow the OCR GCSE Music course.  As a part of the course, students study the three distinct musical disciplines of performing, composing and listening and appraising through five interrelated areas of study. The curriculum covers a detailed exploration of composition styles and solo and ensemble performance. The course culminates in a written and listening exam based on music studied throughout the course.

Students can perform and compose music in any style ensuring everyone can develop in their own unique way achieving results that truly reflect each student’s maximum potential.

The five areas of study are designed to develop knowledge and understanding of music through the study of a variety of genres and styles in their wider context.  Students learn to play a musical instrument, and/or sing, as part of the course for which they perform solo and ensemble pieces totalling a minimum of four minutes.  They compose two pieces of music, also examined as coursework, with a minimum combined total of three minutes.  For the listening and appraising component students develop their listening skills and extend their musical vocabulary and understanding of music theory culminating in a listening examination.

Students at Key Stage 4 have the opportunity to receive instrumental lesson as part of the courses and all students taking Music in Key Stage 4 are involved extra-curricular groups or form their own groups.