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 studyArtist and tracks
1. Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, 3rd movement, Rondo
2. Popular music

Little Shop of Horrors – the following three tracks:

  • Prologue/Little Shop of Horrors (overture)
  • Mushnik and Son
  • Feed Me
3. Traditional music

Paul Simon: Graceland – the following three tracks:

  • Graceland
  • Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
  • You Can Call Me Al
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 studyArtist and tracks
1. Western classical tradition 1650 to 1910Beethoven: Symphony No.1, Movement 1: Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
2. Popular music

Queen – the following three tracks:

  • Bohemian Rhapsody
  • The Seven Seas of Rhye
  • Love of my Life
3. Traditional music

Esperanza Spalding – the following three tracks:

  • I Know You Know
  • Little Fly
  • I Adore You
4. Western classical tradition since 1910

Bartók: Hungarian Pictures – the following four movements*:

  • Movement 1: Evening in the Village
  • Movement 2: The Bear Dance
  • Movement 4: Slightly Tipsy
  • Movement 5: Swineherd’s Dance

*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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