Eduqas GCSE Music Performing (Component 1) overview quiz quiz

20 per cent

30 per cent

40 per cent

60 per cent

1 to 2 minutes

4 to 6 minutes

10 to 12 minutes

15 to 20 minutes

Only solo pieces

At least one ensemble performance of at least one minute and at least one piece linked to an Area of Study

A written commentary only

Three solo pieces and no ensemble

A live exam in front of a visiting examiner

Recorded across the course, internally assessed and externally moderated by Eduqas

A written paper

Not assessed at all

A performance as part of a group

A performance given alone, with or without accompaniment, where the performer carries the music

A recording of someone else

A written analysis

Any performance with a backing track

A part that is essential to a group, not just doubling another part or an accompanied solo

A performance lasting under 30 seconds

A solo with piano accompaniment

The length of the programme

The level of difficulty

The number of performers

The choice of instrument

Only louder playing

Keeping together, balance, blend, and listening and responding to the group

Playing your own part as loudly as possible

Ignoring the other players

Only ever playing at full speed

Practising slowly first then up to tempo, isolating hard passages, with a metronome

Never using a metronome

Practising only the easy bars

It does not need group rehearsal

Because the marks reward ensemble skills (timing, balance, blend, listening) that only group rehearsal develops

To make it shorter

To avoid practising your own part

A noisy room and a distant microphone

A quiet space, good microphone placement and balance, in a continuous unedited take

Editing the performance to fix mistakes

Recording only part of the performance

It is not important

Because good repertoire choice, practice, ensemble rehearsal and recording all take time

To finish before the course begins

So you can avoid the ensemble piece

Performing is the only component

Performing (30 per cent) and Composing (30 per cent) are the practical 60 per cent; Appraising is 40 per cent

Performing is 60 per cent on its own

Performing is part of the written exam