GCSE Music: specification changes for first teaching in September 2024
Published: Monday 4 Sep 2023
We’ve updated our GCSE Music (8271) specification to replace the study pieces for areas of study 1 to 4 in the 'Subject content' section. The changes will affect first teaching in September 2024 with first exams in summer 2026.
The new study pieces include artists like Queen and Esperanza Spalding, which we hope learners will find engaging and diverse.
Study pieces for exams in summer 2024 and 2025 only:
Area of study | Artist and tracks |
---|---|
1. Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910 | Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, 3rd movement, Rondo |
2. Popular music | Little Shop of Horrors – the following three tracks:
|
3. Traditional music | Paul Simon: Graceland – the following three tracks:
|
4. Western classical tradition since 1910 | Zoltán Kodály: Battle and Defeat of Napoleon and Intermezzo from Háry János. (Orchestral version with cimbalom and without vocal parts.) |
Study pieces for exams from 2026 onwards:
Area of study | Artist and tracks |
---|---|
1. Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910 | Beethoven: Symphony No.1, Movement 1: Adagio molto – Allegro con brio |
2. Popular music | Queen – the following three tracks:
|
3. Traditional music | Esperanza Spalding – the following three tracks:
|
4. Western classical tradition since 1910 | Bartók: Hungarian Pictures – the following four movements*:
*Please note that Movement 3: Melody is not to be included. |
Additional sample questions, supporting mark schemes and study guides will be available in assessment resources in the spring term 2024.
The updated specification (version 1.9) has the full information and can be found on our GCSE Music qualification page.
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