Music HL

By: M. Nahas

​Being a music IB student is great in many aspects. Firstly, because music is my passion, so I don’t really think of it as an actual lesson, but as a “fun” experience which I have every day of the week. Secondly, because I am the only student in the class. Therefore, it is basically a private lesson, and because of this, it is very productive.
 
Music is probably my hardest subject. Don’t fall into the trap of choosing music because you think it’s easy. 
 
The course consists (mainly) of performance, composition, arrangement, musical theory and musical history.
 
Here is an outline of the course:

• 20 minutes of live performance which is sent to the external exam board as a video recording;
• 3 compositions lasting from 3:30-5:00 minutes;
• An internal assessment, which is worth 20% of the overall IB grade: The Musical Links Investigation, an essay comparing the elements of songs from different cultures and time periods.
• A listening exam where you have to analyze and compare different pieces which include:
  • The IB Music prescribed set works
  • Unseen music from different cultures
  • Unseen music from different time periods

 
If you would like to take the IB Music course, you have to keep in mind that you should already have some kind of basic musical knowledge, including theory and composition. This course was not designed for pupils who have never had much contact with music.
 
Despite all the hard work, the IB Music course is a lot of fun. You get to make your own music without much restriction, unlike other subjects which hold you back from exploring your creativity.