MUSIC - Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 (GCSE Music) - KS3/KS4 Subject Information

Sep 5, 2026

Music subject information covering Year 7 and Year 8 topics, key vocabulary and skills, and practical support for home learning and school participation. It lists music listening homework tasks and recommended subject websites to strengthen independent revision. For Year 9, it outlines GCSE Music theory, written notation, analysis of set works, live performance and composition planning, including assessment structure, exam board, and a comprehensive set-work vocabulary with named works. It also provides recommended guides and resources for progression to later GCSE study.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Year 7

Topics studied

Keywords/Skills by the end of Year 7

Support at home and school events

Subject-specific websites

Additional information

Year 8

Topics studied

Keywords/Skills by the end of Year 8

Support at home and school events

Subject-specific websites

Additional information

Year 9 – GCSE Music

Topics studied

Exam board and assessment structure

Keywords/Skills by the end of Year 9

Set works

Support at home and school events

Subject-specific websites

Recommended subject guides

Year 10 – GCSE Music

Topics studied

MUSIC Year 7 | Topics studied: Dance Music, Latin American Music, Ukuleles, Caribbean Music, Music and Art and Music from the Far East. | | --- | | Keywords/Skills that students should know by the end of Year 7:
Keywords: Pitch, tempo, dynamics, texture, structure, duration and timbre and be able to use these words to describe music. Terms associated with Music Technology should also be known, including MIDI, sequencing, quantising and editing. | | To help your child this year in Music you can:
􀁸 Encourage instrumental practice at home for those learning an instrument.
􀁸 Encourage participation in school events e.g. Music Evening, Talent Show, Eisteddfod, SummerFest and Music Productions. | | Subject specific websites to support revision and independent learning:
(EG. YouTube channels, Twitter feeds, apps)
Wikipedia and Youtube for various articles and videos as appropriate to the Scheme of Learning. BBC Bitesize – [www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zmsvr82](www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zmsvr82) | | Additional Information:
(EG. Clubs , Resources to help with Home Learning Projects etc )
Music listening homework tasks – 1 per half term. These will be uploaded onto Show My Homework. The pieces chosen link to the Edexcel GCSE course. | Year 8 | Topics studied: Blues and Jazz Music, Indian Classical Music and Bhangra, Film music, Radio Adverts, Minimalism and Research Pop Project. | | --- | | Keywords/Skills that students should know by the end of Year 8:
Keywords: Pitch, tempo, dynamics, texture, structure, duration and timbre and be able to use these words to describe music. Terms associated with Music Technology should also be known, including MIDI, sequencing, quantising and editing. | | To help your child this year in Music you can:
􀁸 Encourage instrumental practice at home for those learning an instrument.
􀁸 Encourage participation in school events e.g. Music Evening, Talent Show, Eisteddfod, SummerFest and Music Productions. | | Subject specific websites to support revision and independent learning:
(EG. YouTube channels, Twitter feeds, apps)
Wikipedia and Youtube for various articles and videos as appropriate to the Scheme of Learning. BBC Bitesize – [www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zmsvr82](www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zmsvr82) | | Additional Information:
(EG. Clubs, Resources to help with Home Learning Projects etc )
Music listening homework tasks – 1 per half term. These will be uploaded onto Show My Homework. The pieces chosen link to the Edexcel GCSE course. | Year 9 – GCSE Music | Topics Studied: Music theory / understanding written notation / building musical understanding, analysis of set works, live performance and composition work. Composition planning in Summer 2 takes place to prepare for the ‘Free Composition’task at the start of Year 10. | | --- | | Exam Board: Edexcel | | Assessment structure:
(EG. Controlled assessment / exam %)
Non-examined composition coursework (two compositions worth 15% each), non-examined performance coursework (one solo and one ensemble performance worth 15% each) and one listening examination in Year 11 worth 40% . | | Keywords/Skills that students should know by the end of Year 9:
Each set work has specific vocabulary / key terms, as follows:
Baroque Era, continuo, concerto, contrapuntal, fugal, harpsichord , sonata form, grave, allegro, Classical Era, Romantic Era, ground bass, word painting, syllabic, melismatic, syncopation, guitar techniques and effects, multi-tracking, overdubbing, song form, orchestration, ensemble, colla voce, musical, tutti, underscoring, leitmotif, pedal notes, fanfare, fusion, samples / loops, extended chords, Bossa Nova, ornamentation, monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic, ternary form, modulation, tessitura, timbre, pitch, dynamics, tonality.
􀁸 Set work 1: Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, 3rd movement
􀁸 Set Work 2: Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, ‘

FAQs

What topics are covered in Year 7 Music?

Year 7 studies Dance Music, Latin American Music, Ukuleles, Caribbean Music, and Music and Art plus Music from the Far East.

Which music skills and vocabulary students should know by the end of Year 8?

Students should know pitch, tempo, dynamics, texture, structure, duration and timbre, and be able to use them to describe music. They should also know Music Technology terms such as MIDI, sequencing, quantising and editing.

How is GCSE Music assessed in Year 9 and what exam board is used?

The exam board is Edexcel. Assessment includes two non-examined composition coursework pieces (15% each), non-examined performance coursework with one solo and one ensemble performance (15% each), and a listening examination in Year 11 worth 40%.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by River Wang