Singapore Secondary School Music Syllabus (G2, G3)

The Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O-Level) Music Syllabus (6085) is applicable to Secondary 4 students taking Music at the G2 and G3 levels. This syllabus emphasizes Listening, Creating, and Performing, allowing students to explore diverse musical genres and styles.

Areas of Study:

• Western Classical Tradition: Includes Solo Instrumental Music (Baroque Dance Suite, Classical Sonata, Romantic Character Piece, 20th Century Musical Styles), Chamber Music (Classical String Quartet, Romantic German Lieder), and Symphony (Classical and Romantic periods).
• Jazz (1920s-1960s): Covers Traditional Jazz, Swing, Bebop, and Cool Jazz.
• Popular Music (Late 1960s-Present): Includes Late 1960s Pop-Rock, Synth-Pop, and R&B/Soul.
• Asian Music: Encompasses Music of Malay Traditional Dances (Zapin and Joget), Chinese Ensemble Music (Jiangnan Sizhu and Guangdong Music), Indian Ensemble Music (Carnatic and Hindustani), and Gamelan (Javanese).

Assessment:

The O-Level Music examination consists of three papers:

• Paper 1: Music Studies (40%): A written examination based on unprepared listening extracts from the Areas of Study. Includes multiple-choice, short-answer, and melodic/rhythmic dictation questions.
• Paper 2: Creating (30%): Composition in response to a stimulus (musical, textual, or contextual) and Reflection Notes documenting the compositional process.
• Paper 3: Performing (30%): A recital of two contrasting pieces (solo, ensemble, or accompaniment) and Reflection Notes discussing performance preparation and musical decisions. Students are required to provide their own accompanist and/or ensemble members where applicable.

Students offering this syllabus must take all three papers and be under the supervision of an O-Level music teacher in their school or an approved O-Level Music Centre. Detailed information on assessment criteria, guidelines for instrument and repertoire selection, and submission requirements can be found in the official syllabus document.