High School - Music
Music in Grades 9 and 10
Music classes at this level are optional and follow the IGCSE Music syllabus. Parents and students most often ask these two questions about IGCSE Music:
- What do you have to do?
- Do you have to be great at playing music and know lots of theory to sign up for this?
What you have to do for IGCSE Music:
- Learn to compose music for a variety of instruments using Sibelius notation software.
- Perform as a soloist and with a group, either on an instrument or as a singer.
- Learn about different types of world music, classical and 20th Century music.
Students submit recordings of their performances and compositions as course work, which accounts for 40% of the marks for their IGCSE music exam. They can play or write music in any style they choose. The course is designed so that a complete beginner can succeed and attain an A Grade. Obviously, students with advanced skills on an instrument have a head start, but they are also expected to perform more difficult music. The level of music theory required is about Grade 3 ABRSM, which all students can attain during the course, even if they start from zero.
The final written exams are done along with a CD. Candidates are played examples of music in styles they have studied and are then asked questions based on what they hear. It is not a music history exam, instead the questions are just about the music itself: structure, instruments, tonality, texture etc.
Music in Grades 11 and 12
IB Music is much the same in structure as the IGCSE music programme. The key difference is that in their final exams, students can be asked questions about any piece of music from any period of history and from any part of the world.
The level of music theory required to answer the questions at IB is higher than at IGCSE and the standard of performing and composing coursework is also higher. Nonetheless, the IB Music course is still accessible to students who have not completed IGCSE music or attained a high level on a musical instrument. The most important thing is that a student likes listening to music, is curious to learn about why it is that way, and is prepared to put some effort into developing their performing and composing skills.
Visit isbmusic.org - a unique music education project
To hear a wide range of examples of work by our students, visit our dedicated music site www.isbmusic.org . This unique school website enables students to upload and share their own recordings. Students can build up a virtual portfolio of work which clearly shows the progress that they have made.