Examinations

Edexcel GCSE Music (2016)

The Edexcel GCSE in Music, introduced in 2016, consists of one externally examined paper and two non-examined assessments (NEA). Marks are allocated as follows....

The images that follow are the pertinent extracts from the Edexcel GCSE Music (2016) documents relating to the marking allocations highlighted above.

The Appraising portion of the Edexcel GCSE in Music is predominantly dealt with in the general music lessons provided by the relevant Secondary School.

Edexcel (Pearson) produce an Anthology of Music book plus a supporting CD; this forms the backbone of the Appraising portion of the GCSE (40% of the overall marks). These are illustrated in the images/links that follow....

The inference to be drawn from the above information is that the Performing (30%) and Composing (30%) portions of the GCSE Music exam would always be dealt with by private music lessons (directly funded by parents).

These privately funded music lessons can be provided by the relevant Music Service, usually controlled by the Local Authority, for example....

These Local Authority Music Service lessons are provided by peripatetic teachers (on the school premises) with the pupil being regularly withdrawn from other GCSE lessons for the duration of the guitar/bass lesson (usually on a rotating basis to avoid persistant absense from any particular subject).

The Performing (30%) and Composing (30%) portions of the GCSE Music curriculum form the majority of the available exam marks and guitar/bass lessons which support these subject areas are always directly funded by parents.

Therefore, wouldn't it be better to take private guitar/bass lessons with Zon Brookes, thus avoiding the previously highlighted pitfalls?

Edexcel AS and A Level Music (2016)

The Edexcel AS and A level qualifications in Music, introduced in 2016, consists of one externally examined paper and two non-examined assessments (NEA). Marks are allocated as follows....

The images that follow are the pertinent extracts from the Edexcel AS and A level Music documents relating to the marking allocations highlighted above.

The Appraising portion of the Edexcel AS and A level Music is predominantly dealt with in the general music lessons provided by the relevant Secondary School/Sixth Form College.

Edexcel (Pearson) produce an Edexcel AS/A level Anthology of Music book plus a supporting CD; this forms the backbone of the Appraising portion of the AS/A level (40% of the overall marks). These are illustrated in the images/links that follow....

The inference to be drawn from the above information is that the Performing (30%) and Composing (30%) portions of the Edexcel AS and A level Music exam would always be dealt with by private music lessons (directly funded by parents).

These privately funded music lessons can be provided by the relevant Music Service, usually controlled by the Local Authority, for example....

These Local Authority Music Service lessons are provided by peripatetic teachers (on the school premises) at the request of parents.

The Performing (30%) and Composing (30%) portions of the AS/A level Music curriculum form the majority of the available exam marks and guitar/bass lessons are always directly funded by parents, regardless of how they are delivered.

Therefore, wouldn't it be better to take private guitar/bass lessons with Zon Brookes, thus avoiding the previously highlighted pitfalls?