IGCSE Music Course Player

Component 1

70 marks 1h 15m Written exam

Covers all 7 Areas of Study:

Component 2

50 marks 2 pieces ≥ 2 min each

Two pieces, each marked out of 25:

Part 1 — Solo: sing/play a solo (accompanied or unaccompanied; may be self-accompanied)
Part 2 — With others: duet or small group with at least one other live performer
Combined duration ≤ 10 minutes
Candidate's part must NOT be extensively doubled

Component 3

50 marks 2 compositions

Two original compositions, each marked out of 25:

Composition 1: notated in staff notation as a complete score + recording
Composition 2: written to a candidate-defined brief from one AoS: Music and words / Dance / Small ensemble / Stage and screen — submit recording + commentary OR score in style-appropriate notation
Must differ in instruments/voices/electronic sounds between the two

aConfidence, fluency and accuracy

bChoice and control of tempo, coordination with accompaniment / other performers

cCharacter, style and ensemble awareness

dTechnical control of the instrument

eThe performance as a whole

aIdeas

bStructure

cUse of medium

dCompositional technique

eScore presentation / notation OR Written commentary based on the given template

Solo: any instrument or voice. May be accompanied (live player, small group, backing track) or unaccompanied. Self-accompanied singing is allowed; choose whether the singing alone or the singing+accompanying is assessed.
With others: duets for any two instruments where both parts are equally important; piano duet (either part); small instrumental ensemble; vocal duet or small vocal ensemble (one voice per part); singing/playing in a band; accompanying on any appropriate instrument; performing with a backing track plus at least one other live performer.
Teachers MAY perform in the candidate's group. The candidate does NOT have to use the same instrument for Part 1 and Part 2.

An accompanied solo where the candidate plays the solo part (e.g. flute solo + piano accompaniment where the candidate plays the flute)
Solo repertoire with extra parts bolted on (e.g. a jazz piano solo with drums and bass added, where the candidate plays the piano)
Vocal duets where the parts are really solo passages alternating between two singers — there must be real harmonic interaction, not just trading off

Each performance: at least 2 minutes; both performances together no longer than 10 minutes.
Compositions: no fixed minimum or maximum — long enough to demonstrate the skills assessed in each criterion. Tempo and complexity decide.
Listening exam: 1 hour 15 minutes.

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