Candidate:

GCSE Music Target:

What I want to achieve:

B352 Controlled Coursework: Composi6on

AOS2: Shared Music
AOS3: Dance Music
AOS4: DescripAve Music

Candidates must choose one composi6on from AOS 2, 3 or 4:

AOS2 Shared Music:
A composiAon for a group of instruments 2 or more.
AOS3 Dance Music:
Waltz
LaAn Dance: Salsa, Tango
Line Dance: American, Irish Jig & Reel
Disco
Club Dance
Current / emerging Dance Styles
AOS4 Descrip6ve Music:
A composiAon which creates a mood or picture

Checklist
1

ComposiAon brief

ComposiAon

ComposiAon Log

ComposiAon
evaluaAon.

Done

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

General ques6ons read these rst before asking!!

10 hours.

How long do I have to complete

the work?
What do I have to compose?

You can choose either: a piece for a group of instruments (AOS2), a

dance style piece (AOS3) or a piece of descripAve / mood music (AOS4).

How will the 10 hours be split up?

The 10 hours will be spread over a number of lessons.

Any feedback given to learners must be menAoned in your composi6on
log. Lessons will usually account for 45 mins of composing 6me.
One nal hour will be kept back to review your composi6on in
September 2014.

What instruments can I use?

Any that you think will will be suitable for your chosen style of
composiAon.
Instruments that you have available. Instruments you can play.
Instruments you can get someone else to play.

What tech. can I use?

Any music soZware including Garageband, Logic or Sibelius.

Can I use loops?

You can - but they will get you ZERO marks. You must declare the loops.
However, you can listen to a loop and adapt it / create your own so that
you have shown your creaAvity.

Do I have to perform my
composi6on?

No you can use ICT or get others to play your work.

Can I play my composi6on?

Yes! This makes the whole process very straigh`orward!

How do I hand in my
composi6on?

This can be either as a score (wriaen down) or recorded.

If you are using music tech. you can simply export as an audio le.

How much does this composi6on

add to my nal GCSE grade?

10%

HOWEVER playing your own composiAon is a real plus point if you can.

This is a diary of what you do and when you do it.

The evaluaAon will only happen when the work is enArely complete.
By keeping a diary you will be able to ll out the composiAon log for
B532

Whats this composi6on log &

evalua6on?
Is this composi6on log marked?
How much does it add to my nal
GCSE grade?

YES
5%

How is the coursework marked?

All marking criteria is included in this booklet.

All grade boundaries are included.

How do I increase my chances of

geWng or improving my grade?

Aaending all lessons and arriving on Ame.

Using the full 45 mins of each session acAvely.
Being fully prepared for each session correct equipment etc.
Ask for support if you are unsure and book a support session in lunch,
break or aZer school. THIS WILL NOT BE DONE IN LESSON TIME.

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

HOW YOUR WORK IS MARKED..

Your nal mark for this coursework is made up from THREE areas:
Core criteria (15) + AOS Criteria (5) + Log & Evalua6on (10)

E - F

C - D

B - C

A - B

A*
These are the rst 15 marks awarded for your composi6on.
They are added to two further areas to give you a nal mark
out of 30.
OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

AOS CRITERIA (5)

The criteria used depends on which composition you have attempted.

These 5 marks are added to your 15 core marks.
This will give you a new total out of 20 marks.

When your work is marked you have a final score out of 20.

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

LOG & EVALUATION MARK (10)

Your mark out of 20 is now added to your mark for the log and evaluation.
This will give you a final mark out of 30 for your composition, log & evaluation.
This mark boundary below is a guide only to your final grade for all marking criteria.

30 27 24 21 18 15 12

Max

A*

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

Choose your AOS focus:

Dance music?
Mood piece?
Shared piece?

LISTEN

What instruments do you need?

Will you use technology?

To music in that style and make a note of

what you hear and who its by.
Write this in your booklet.

What do you like about the music you have

heard? Can you use any of these ideas?

LIST

What do you like about the music you have

heard? Can you use any of these ideas?
Make a note in your booklet.
Use this in your PLAN.

LIST all the features of your chosen style.

This will help you include all the right
ingredients and may help you when you are
stuck!

COLLECT

Print out any music / chord charts / lyrics

that you have listened to. This could help
you and if youre struggling to nd your own
chords these may be a good starAng point.

STRUCTURE

What secAons will your music need?

The STRUCTURE is important as this links to
the style. List all the secAons your music
needs.

CHORDS
Choose ONE secAon at a Ame
maybe chorus rst?
Play through some chords you already
have form your listening.
Can you adapt them?
Think about INVERSIONS?

You can use these chords as a starAng point.

You can add, adapt and develop a chord
sequence.

Your structure gives you the outline of the

music. It gives you focus and direcAon.
Think about the secAons you will need to
eecAvely support your AOS.

Think about how you play these chords

make sure the RHYTHM supports your
composiAon STYLE. Remember changing
the rhythm each Ame the sequence repeats
keeps the listener interested.

DEVELOP

Add a bass line to your chords.

Look at the ROOT note at rst.
Add a melody.
Think about the notes in your chord.

Adding layers / developing texture.

Remember you can maintain interest by
adding and removing layers of sound.

PLANNING YOUR COMPOSITION

Listening:

You should listen widely and include a list of any music that you have played or listened to that
may be inspiraAonal or inuence your composing style.
For example, if you have decided to compose in a disco style you should nd several examples
that show the key elements of that style.

Key elements of your chosen style:

Make a list of all the key elements you would expect to see or hear in your chosen style.
This should include instruments, tempo, structure, dynamics, rhythms, harmony
all your DR P Smith elements!

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

DR P SMITH Use DR P Smith to support your planning.

D Dynamics
Devices

R Rhythm
P Pitch
S Structure
Style

M Mood
Melody

I Instruments
Time

T Signature/s
Texture
Tone

H Harmony
OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

COMPOSITION BRIEF..
This is where you need to say what you will compose for your controlled coursework.
Either a piece for 2 or more instruments, a dance piece or a mood piece.
At this stage, it should be a rough outline of your intenAons.
Use DR P Smith to help you plan what you think you should be included in your composing.

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

Date

Progress.

You can include bullet points and comments here.

Notes incl.
feedback or advice

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

10

Date

Progress

Notes incl.
feedback or advice

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

11

Date

Progress

Notes incl.
feedback or advice

10

11

12

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

12

COMPOSITION EVALUATION..
So, how did the composiAon work out? Did you sAck to your brief or did it change?
You should refer back to your composiAon log and sum up how you think you composiAon
has worked out. Is it successful? Does it t your expectaAons?
What went well? What could be improved? How did you overcome any issues if there
were any? What ICT did you use?

Use this space to bullet point your ideas and sum up how the composiAon has
progressed.

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

13

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

14

OCR GCSE B352 ComposiAon

15