Writing a successful GSCE Composition
A composition gaining full marks (100%) will:
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Make imaginative use of ideas and conventions
Demonstrate excellent and effective selection and handling of resources, exploiting
their potential
Have an interesting overall structure, with parts appropriate to the piece and show
imaginative use of structural devices
An “Understanding the Brief” with a detailed description and perceptive evaluation of
the composition, placing it in its context, including critical judgements and extensive
musical vocabulary
It could also have:
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An excellent melody, displaying style, character and appropriateness
Harmony/accompaniment appropriate to the style of writing and mood, showing
extended repertoire of chords/accompaniment style
Sensitive awareness of textural matters, exploiting texture to good effect
Exciting well chosen rhythm, showing some originality
Careful, sensitive and appropriate dynamics, which really enhance the composition
A composition gaining 80% will:
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Show some development of ideas and make good use of standard conventions
Demonstrate a good selection and handling of resources, realising their potential
Have an overall structure with a sense of proportion and development and good use of
structural devices
Have an “Understanding the Brief” making good use of musical vocabulary with
justification and possibly examples
It could also have:
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Well constructed melodic lines
A good harmonic repertoire/accompaniment style
A good and clear awareness of texture
A good choice of rhythm throughout
A good range of dynamics used effectively throughout
A composition gaining 60% will:
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Make adequate use of standard conventions
Manage to realise the potential of most resources
Have a simple but clear structure, making appropriate use of structural devices
Have an “Understanding the Brief” making appropriate use of musical vocabulary
It could also have:
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Melodic lines with a sense of shape
Limited harmonic repertoire/accompaniment, but with no significant misjudgements
Generally appropriate texture
Appropriate choice of rhythm
Dynamics given throughout and used appropriately
A composition gaining 40% will:
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Make some attempt at realising and developing ideas
Use the resources in a functional manner
Attempt to use and control most structural devices mot of the time, but with some
misjudgements
Have an “Understanding the Brief” where musical vocabulary has been used but
misapplied, or no musical vocabulary has been used but there is an adequate
description of the composition
It could also have:
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Melodic lines that work most of the time but display some misjudgements
An awareness of texture of harmony/accompaniment but with some misjudgements
Some awareness of texture although with some misjudgements
Some appropriate choices of rhythm but with a few misjudgements
Dynamics generally indicated but not always used appropriately
A composition gaining 20% will:
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Make a minimal attempt at realising and or/developing ideas
Make only a very limited use of resources
Make only limited use of structural devices
Have an “Understanding the Brief” with a limited description of the composition and no
musical vocabulary used
It could also have:
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Melodic lines with little sense of shape or form
Limited harmonic understanding or inappropriate accompaniment
A very limited awareness of texture
A very limited awareness of rhythm
Dynamics sometimes indicated but used inappropriately
An explanation of some the ‘jargon’ used above……..
Conventions are ways of writing music that have already been established and are well
recognised, eg ternary form, ground bass, 12-note tone rows etc.
Resources are the instruments/voices/sounds you choose to use in your composition.
Structure is the order in which the sections of your composition are arranged eg intro verse,
chorus or ABA etc.
Texture is the way the different instruments/parts work together eg are they all playing the
same thing at the same time or there lots of different rhythms and melodies played together?
Harmony is the sequence of chords you have chosen. Make sure it is appropriate to the style.
Accompaniment is played in the background to support the main melody.
Dynamics add expression and ‘colour’ to music eg forte – strong/loud, piano – soft/quiet,
crescendo – gradually building up/becoming louder.