GCSE Music

The GCSE Music course attracts talented young musicians from all over the country, many who attend the junior departments of the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music. Individual and group lessons available online and face-to-face.

100% pass rate and a percentage of high grades (i.e. grade 7 and above) significantly outperforming the National Average.

Go to Online Lessons

The Edexcel specification is followed and the qualification is attained through Faregos Home Education Exam Centre, Hampshire, UK, Tutor and Exams or ARC Exams. Please see below why you should choose Edexcel and not one of the other exam boards. It is also possible for children who attend school to sit GCSE Music privately. Please note I am only able to assess students on my courses due to the teacher supervision required for the composition coursework. Assessment deadlines are 14th February (performances) and 1st March (compositions) in the academic year in which the qualification is taken.

One, two and three year options are available. My one year, Fast Track course (June start) usually attracts advanced students with good pre-existing skills (Grade 5 and above). The two year course has a September start. Both individual and group lessons are available. To study over three years, students join the two year course and then transfer to the Fast Track course for their final year.

60% of the course is coursework; performing and composing. For performance, the standard level of difficulty for GCSE Music is Grade 4, although pulling off Grade 5 standard pieces well has its benefits. Students are required to perform as a soloist, plus in an ensemble setting (30% weighting). The total performance submission is a minimum of four minutes. The performance aspect of the course is mainly worked on with the student’s instrumental/vocal teacher.

Students also submit two compositions totalling three minutes (30% weighting). One composition is free choice and the other is in response to a brief released by Edexcel. Students start their coursework following initial exercises and trial compositions exploring how to achieve musical coherent and develop musical ideas.  During the two year course, coursework would usually start after two terms of tuition. For the fast track course, the coursework would start after the first block of six lessons.  The course is fully supported by a series of composing guidance videos. Students may spend as many hours as they wish on their compositions, but the final write-up of the compositions is completed under teacher supervision, alongside the continuous teacher supervision they receive as one of my students. The music software package Sibelius or Musescore is required and there are free versions available.

The remaining 40% is a listening paper where eight set works are studied appealing to a range of musical tastes. The focus is very much on musical elements (i.e. DR SMITH – Dynamics …Rhythm, Metre and Tempo…Structure…Melody…Instrumentation…Texture…Harmony and Tonality) alongside context and musical language (i.e. terminology). The paper consists of short answer questions, music dictation, unfamiliar listening related to set works and an extended response. 

I provide all course material (i.e. study guides with integrated scores and recordings) such as study guides for each set work, alongside a series of posters capturing the relevant points. There will be a strong focus to begin with on acquiring the necessary subject specific terminology. Once this has been achieved, students usually find the listening paper straightforward to access.

To request a place, please contact Debra at info@debra-adamson-brattland.com

Why Edexcel GCSE Music is the best choice?

1. The exam data

Edexcel attracts the highest number of music entries and at the same time sits top in terms of high grades achieved. See the exam data below across the four exam boards. 

ie. 40.5% high grades achieved (Grades 7-9) in 2023

2. The credit given to Grade 5 and above performances

My courses attract students with high performance skills, therefore I need a specification that rewards this achievement.

Edexcel substantially rewards performances of Grade 5 or above. 

If a Grade 5 performance receives 20/24, ten extra marks are applied to the raw mark and the student receives 30/30 (100%). 

A grade 4 and above performance graded 20/24 receives 25/30 (83%), five extra marks. 

Eduqas calculates the final grade in the same way as Edexcel, although attracts less extra marks. If a Grade 4 and above performance receives 33/36, three extra marks are applied to the raw mark and the student receives 36/36 (100%). No extra credit for Grade 5 and above. 

AQA’s approach to ‘rewarding’ Grade 5 and above performances is limited. 

The level of demand is part of the grading criteria and applied as a mark out of 6 and equates to 6/36 of the available marks.  ie A Grade 5 performance will achieve 6/6 for level of demand. A grade 4 performance 5/6 and grade 3, 4/6. 

OCR have a similar approach to AQA. 

3. The Edexcel set works

Edexcel have a varied and interesting selection of eight set works/movements ranging from Bach to Killer Queen. 

The set works remain with the specification, changes usually triggered by the reform of qualifications from the DfE. The set works have remained stable since 2018, now with many supporting resources and Educators using this specification have refined their development. 

AQA moving forward also have a varied and interesting selection of eleven set works/movements.

They changed their set works for the 2026 cohort. Limited resources will have been prepared, no past papers available and Educators using this specification will be dealing with the workload of teaching the old eight set works, alongside the new eleven for the academic year 2024-2025.  

These differences have an impact. 

Theory

A Level

TESTIMONIALS

Melissa Cary

Melissa Cary

As a home educator, I thought that GCSE Music would be impossible for my daughter, but then a friend told me about Debbie and assured me that she would be able to take her through it. I put all my trust in Debbie, because I’d never taken GCSE Music myself so knew I wouldn’t be able to help my daughter, but Debbie repaid that trust and my daughter got a 9! She held my daughter’s hand every step of the way, from supporting her when she was using composing software for the first time, to additional Blitz Revision classes right before the exam which put my daughter’s mind at rest. Along the way she also taught her everything she needed to know for Grade 5 Theory, which my daughter passed with a Merit. When my daughter’s Appraising paper clashed with another exam, we knew we wouldn’t be able to sit the paper at Faregos, but thankfully Debbie is now an approved tutor for Tutors and Exams which meant that we could sit both exams at our local exam centre and let them sort out the clash. Overall, I am so pleased with, and grateful for, everything that Debbie has done to help my daughter achieve such wonderful results.
Claire

Claire

GCSE & A Level Music My son is just one of many on Debbie’s roster of success. Year 8: Grade 9 GCSE after a single year of teaching. Year 10: A* A Level. At GCSE Debbie’s outstandingly well-crafted course materials prompt on-target learning and pain-free revision. At A Level she cleverly hones and distils a potentially sprawling curriculum. (Very helpful, as in our case, for a dyslexic student). And she delivers it all in highly engaging small portions, with lots of interaction, enabling easy digestion of everything a candidate needs to know. For anyone interested in taking a creative GCSE I think Debbie’s course offers a highly attractive combination of fun and great teaching. For a home-educated aspiring musician such as my son (an award-winning instrumentalist and BBC Young Composer winner, who could not otherwise have accessed an academic route to complement practical development), Debbie’s GCSE and A Level courses are a boon: allowing them to concentrate on their chosen path, to broaden their knowledge of the field, and to apply with confidence to conservatoire or university.
Peter Skuce

Peter Skuce

Obviously my daughter is a talented musician, otherwise I would not have contemplated putting her in for GCSE Music early. But four years early!? That seemed like a tall order, even for a pushy parent such as myself.
Luckily, we met Debbie.
Debbie, as well as being an accomplished practising instrumentalist herself, has a forensically thorough understanding of the Music GCSE requirements, which she has built up over her years of teaching experience. She has dissected every detail of what they are looking for and put together a course that delivers, in bite-sized pieces, exactly what is needed to succeed in the exam. What's more, she delivers this precisely tailored knowledge in an engaging and professional manner. Thanks to Debbie, this morning we learned that my daughter had achieved a top grade Music GCSE.
We were very lucky to find Debbie and can only give her the very highest recommendation. Cheers Debbie!
Alison Norris

Alison Norris

"As a home educating family we were very lucky to find Debbie who made it possible for my son to study GCSE Music as well as Grade 5 Music Theory. She also facilitated his entry at Faregos and ensured the whole process was as stress free as possible. I thought it would be really difficult to teach Music online but Debbie proved me wrong. The lessons really engaged my son and provided everything needed for success with lots of very high quality resources. She supported his work on composition which was new to him and he said how much she helped him. Above all, he really enjoyed the group lessons and was very proud of his grade 8. Thank you, Debbie.”
Drusilla and James Kenney

Drusilla and James Kenney

Our daughter took Debbie’s Blitz Grade 5 Theory course last summer.  Although she had been learning the flute and enjoying playing for several years, she had taken no practical or theory grade exams.  She thoroughly enjoyed Debbie’s online group classes which were welcoming, friendly, professional and very well structured.  Debbie made the requirements clear, provided tailored support, and our daughter entered the online proctored exam confidently and enthusiastically.  She achieved a distinction.
Archie Hewson

Archie Hewson

I have had GCSE Music & Grade 5 Theory lessons from Debbie for the past academic year, & I have learned an immense amount in an entertaining way in these classes. Before having lessons with Debbie I’d done more or less no Music Theory at all; &  in roughly the space of one term, she took me from Grade 1 to 63/75 (a good merit) in Grade 5 Theory. This is mainly because she is a highly interactive tutor, always asking for our opinions, examples & regularly testing us on vocabulary & other related content. Her lessons are always well presented & well structured. She goes out of her way to fill her slides with on point material presented in an enticing & memorable way. Personally, this helps her stand out as a exceptional teacher. In spite of Covid-19 causing quite an idiosyncratic year, Debbie has offered exceptional teaching and extraordinarily, we experienced no notable tech-related issues. From what I experienced Debbie has, amazingly, adapted flexibly to this scenario & has put hours & hours into outstanding, in depth resources for both courses I did! She is always very prompt with lesson timings & responds to any queries swiftly with personalised and thorough feedback. Overall, I felt expertly supported and inspired by Debbie as a tutor & would therefore highly recommend her.
Claire Johnson

Claire Johnson

We simply cannot believe our luck in finding Debbie. She is a truly inspiring, thorough, gifted and dedicated teacher. Our daughter took her first lesson with Debbie less than a year ago. Being dyslexic she was struggling to read music notation and wanting to take GCSE music in a year, and since that first lesson she has never looked back. She now reads music confidently which has given her great pleasure and a massive sense of achievement. She has completed the GCSE music course in under a year, and even with the huge challenges that have come along the way, Debbie has never faltered in keeping things moving. Debbie has taught via a combination of face-to-face and Skype lessons, and they have all been supportive and totally engaging. She has helped all her 2020 exam candidates in preparing to submit the evidence required by the exam boards for this years grading. She doesn’t leave a stone unturned, and is the most fun incredible teacher you could ever wish to find. Our daughter is now embarking on a Grade 8 piano piece, and music A’ level course with Debbie, and we know it will be a fabulous journey.
Sophie Dale

Sophie Dale

My son had these gcse lessons with Debbie over yr10/11 and it worked incredibly well being a home education student, he really enjoyed the well structured format and Debbie’s friendly, lively and positive interactions. She has a wonderful ability to encourage confidence and gently guides students in their weaker areas. Debbie has excellent knowledge of her subject area and all her resources are so helpful, the composer study guides in particular where music sections can be played individually alongside detailed analytical information. She makes careful records of student’s progress with the tracker, mock exams and exam practice questions. This has been invaluable this year as the exam board requires teachers to assign the gcse grade based upon evidence. She is highly organised and has good computer skills needed to offer a computer based course the skype lessons ran very smoothly and it is very easy for students and teacher to pass work back and to. Work can be immediately marked on the screen and it is very easy to share on screen work especially their compositions from Sibelius which she gives expert feedback on. Debbie recorded my son’s performance at her house and this proved very successful too as did her witnessing the ensemble performance piece. Debbie has worked tirelessly particularly in response to working around problems caused this year with the virus, she organised a zoom mock exam which worked very well. I would highly recommend her services to anyone considering their child studying gcse music she will try her hardest to make sure they achieve the grades they deserve. A big thank you to you Debbie.
Moira McCarty

Moira McCarty

I have tried for a long time to find a way for my daughter to do music GCSE as a home educator. We are so pleased to have found Debbie! My daughter has just had her first Skype composition lesson and she loved it. She is looking forward to her next session.
Sally Foster

Sally Foster

Debbie has been an inspirational music teacher and tutor to my children. Her own music knowledge, passion and skill are second to none; this combines with Debbie's detailed understanding of the syllabus, excellent planning and preparation and a total commitment to coaching every student to reach their potential in an energetic and motivating way. Whether studying the theory of music or an instrument, Debbie has delivered my children's lessons in a creative, enthusiastic and encouraging style; she has found innovative and differing ways to motivate both my children to  practice (no easy task!) and build their musical ability. Debbie is dedicated to bringing the very best out of her students in a nurturing, patient, engaging and hugely positive way. I would not hesitate to recommend her.
Alyssa Mantel-Cooper

Alyssa Mantel-Cooper

Debbie has been teaching me for over 10 years both inside primary school as well as outside lessons. She has taught me the recorder from the very basics all the way up to grade 8 and beyond. She has enabled me to develop into an accomplished young musician, achieving grade 8 distinction as well as receiving a numerous awards at the Portsmouth Music festival 3 years in a row; all of which would not have been possible without Debbie's amazing teaching techniques and her inspirational enthusiasm for the recorder and music.  Debbie has always made the lessons exciting, from karate recorder at the to messing around with different flutter tonguing for my diploma. Her whacky ways of teaching really brings out the fun side of  playing the recorder and thanks to this my passion for the recorder stemmed from so early on. Debbie has really helped me achieve my full potential as she always stretches me with the hardest music; I would never have imagined of being able to play Czardas by Monti (at full speed) in front of a full auditorium at the  Portsmouth Gala concert, but thanks to Debbie's hard work and determination I pulled it off! Not only has Debbie taught me the recorder she has helped me develop into an all rounded musician by teaching me music theory form grade 1 to 5. She also helped me hugely with the ideas for my music GCSE compositions which I gained full marks in, achieving the highest mark they have ever had at my school! Debbie is always willing to help out and give up her time to give extra lessons- she often gave me extra aural lessons before an exam which were so useful as this is the part I find the hardest!  Without Debbie, my recorder playing as well as musical understanding would definitely not be at the level it is today.  
Theo Mantel-Cooper

Theo Mantel-Cooper

Debbie has been teaching me since the age of 6 years, first in recorder, then music theory and now piano. She makes the lessons fun, such as Karate recorder where we had to learn and play recorder pieces of increasing difficulty, earning different coloured ‘belts’ like Karate. I continued with the ABRSM descent recorder exams and had passed Grade 5 by the age of 9! Debbie helped me with music theory, breaking it down into small chunks and setting and marking practice papers. This helped me to work my way quickly through the grades achieving merits and distinctions and Grade 5 by 10 years old. Debbie now teaches me piano and always finds  interesting pieces for me to play. She helps improve my technique and timing and is positive and enthusiastic, even if I haven’t done as much practice as I should have! She keeps me motivated and working towards my Grade 7 next term. She has also helped me prepare for 11+ music Scholarships, helping select appropriate pieces and ensuring I was at the required standard ( i was offered 3 music Scholarships) Debbie is also keen to help out in any way musically, including accompanying me on my flute to give me extra practice before exams and tips on rhythm and musicality, as well as practice for the oral part of my music exams. I have really flourished under her tutorage and can thoroughly recommend her as an excellent teacher who helps students achieve high standards and music results.
Isaac Hillier

Isaac Hillier

I came to Debbie as a total beginner and was quickly taught the basics of playing, achieving ABRSM Grade 2 within the first year. She has been an enormous help in my GCSE Music exam preparation and my understanding of composition has greatly improved with her advice. She is a knowledgeable and fun teacher and I would certainly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn classical guitar.
Melisa Kuipers

Melisa Kuipers

Debbie has been an outstanding teacher for my children, for both practical music and theory lessons. She makes the lessons enjoyable, as well as preparing the children to a very high standard for exams. She is very dedicated and professional, and she really goes the extra mile for her students.
Nicki Mantel-Cooper

Nicki Mantel-Cooper

Debbie is a fantastic teacher who truly inspires her pupils to succeed! She is kind, positive and encouraging and works at the pace of the child. She helped my daughters  achieve Grade 8 Distinction and Merit in recorder and my son is about to take Grade 7 piano, aged 13 years. She has helped them all achieve Grade 5 music theory (with merits and distinctions at each level) and offered individual support and marking of past papers. My children very much enjoy their music lessons with Debbie and responded by achieving high grades at all levels due to her positive attitude and excellent teaching! I would thoroughly recommend her. 
Swati Mukherjee

Swati Mukherjee

My two boys  learn piano with Debbie. She not only teaches them meticulously but most importantly inspires and motivates them to strive to improve continually. Both my sons have developed a real liking and interest in piano, thanks to her teaching methods and the way she presents the music to them. She sets challenging but achievable targets for them, which encourages them to practice regularly and they have come a long way in developing their confidence. To be honest we couldn't have asked for a better music teacher for my sons.
Anni Smith

Anni Smith

Debbie has taught my 16 year old son classical guitar and my 14 year old son piano for the past six years. She has also taken them both through the ABRSM Music Theory grades to Grade 5. She is very patient and understanding, particularly when practice has not been as diligent as she might like, and her exam results are consistently very good. In addition, Debbie has been of great assistance to my eldest son whilst studying for his GCSE Music exam – helping him to improve his composition skills and duetting with him for one of his performance pieces. I would recommend Debbie to anyone seeking lessons for themselves or their children. She is a gifted musician and an excellent teacher. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
Emily Walsh

Emily Walsh

Due to a busy schedule and the distance we have to travel , having a Skype lesson with Debbie was perfect and just as valuable as a face to face lesson. Debbie is very engaging and is a great teacher. I would highly recommend.