HKDSE Music

New HKDSE Music Curriculum from 2024

The enhancement of HKDSE Music Curriculum and Assessment will be implemented in September 2024. The Cohort 2024-2027 will be the first batch of students who experience this inspiring and exciting new curriculum. The new HKDSE Music Curriculum and Assessment will enrich the students’ music journeys on multi-facets.

 

Current Curriculum and Assessment

New Curriculum and Assessment

(Starting from Cohort 2024-2027)

Duration 

Compulsory Part

Three Compulsory Modules / Papers

  

Module 1 / Paper 1: Listening (40%)

Module 1 / Paper 1: Listening (50%)

  • Part A: Music in the Western Classical Tradition

  • Part B: Chinese Instrumental Music, Cantonese Operatic Music,

Local and Western Popular Music

Part A: About 1 hour 30 minutes


Part B: About 1 hour 30 minutes

Module 2 / Paper 2: Performing I (20%)

Module 2 / Paper 2: Performing (30%)

  • Part A: Ensemble Performance (15%)


  • Part B: Solo Performance (15%)

Part A: About 15 minutes


Part B: About 20 minutes

Module 3 / Paper 3: Creating I (20%)

Module 3 / Paper 3: Creating (20%)

External Assessment


Duration: N/A

Elective Part (Choose 1 of the following modules)

N/A

N/A

Module 4 / Paper 4A: Special Project (20%)

N/A

N/A

Module 5 / Paper 4B: Performing II (20%)

N/A

N/A

Module 6 / Paper 4C: Creating II (20%)

N/A

N/A

 

Listening (Paper 1)

The Music in the Western Tradition, Chinese Instrumental Music, Cantonese Operatic Music and Local and Western Popular Music are kept in the new HKDSE Music curriculum and assessment with refinement and streamlining of the syllabus.

There are familiar and unfamiliar learning materials in this Paper.

Topics

Set Work(s)

Music in the Western Classical Tradition (24%)

  1. Eight concrete focused genres or styles in Music in the Western Classical Tradition.
  2. The long questions will cover the eight focus genres / styles, including two set works.
  3. Provide two setworks in Music in the Western Classical Tradition to enable in-depth and contextual study.
  4. Questions for set works will carry approximately 20-30% of the weighting allocated to Part A (24%).
  5. Both set work and non-set work questions will be included in Part A.

1. George Frideric Handel (original orchestration): 

Messiah, HWV 56, Scene 3 of Part I 

  • Recitative (alto): Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive 
  • Aria (alto) and Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion 
  • Recitative (bass): For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth 
  • Aria (bass): The People That Walked in Darkness
  • Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born 

Recommended edition: Hallische Händel-Ausgabe, Serie I, Band 17, ed. John Tobin 


2. Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, H 48, first and fifth movements 

Chinese Instrumental Music (12%)

  1. Provide four focus genres.
  2. Provide one setwork in Chinese Instrumental Music for the ‘Modern large-scale ensemble’ genre to enable in-depth and contextual study.  

Peng Xiuwen (1963) arrangement, Yueer Gao (The Moon Rises High 月儿高 ), ancient tune

Cantonese Operatic Music (6%)

  1. No change of contents in Cantonese Operatic Music.
  2. No set work will be provided in Cantonese Operatic Music.         

N/A             

Local and Western Popular Music (8%)

  1. Provide four focused genres or styles in Local and Western Popular Music.
  2. No set work will be provided in Local and Western Popular Music.   

N/A

              


Performing (Paper 2)

Part A - Ensemble Performance (Practical Examination)

Performance (12%)

  1. Play or sing two or more ensemble pieces in contrasting styles in a recital
  2. A total duration from 5 to 10 minutes
  3. Minimum requirements: 
    1. Western instruments: Grade 4 practical examination of ABRSM / Grade 5 practical examination of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto-Canada 
    2. Chinese instruments: Grade 4 practical examination of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing

Oral Presentation (3%)

  1.  From 3 to 5 minutes (3%)

* Pieces chose in Part A should not be the same repertoire in Part B - Solo Performance *


Video recordings should be a continuous and unedited version of students’ performances

Part B - Solo Performance (Practical Examination OR Other Recognised Qualifications)

Performance  (13%)

  1. Play or sing two or more pieces individually in contrasting styles in a recital
  2. A total duration from 8 to 15 minutes
  3. Minimum requirements: 
    1. Western instruments / vocal: Grade 6 practicum examination of ABRSM / Grade 6 practical examination of the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) / Grade 7 practical examination of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto-Canada
    2. Chinese instruments: Grade 6 practical examination of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing

 

Oral Presentation (2%)

  1.  From 3 to 5 minutes 

* Pieces chose in Part B should not be the same repertoire in Part A - Ensemble Performance *


* Exemption applicable for recognised qualifications. Pieces used in the exemption should not be the same pieces performed in Part A - Ensemble Performance *


Performing (Paper 2) - Exemption Conversion Table

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music / Trinity Guildhall Music Examinations

Australian Music Examinations Board

Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto-Canada

Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing (Chinese Music)

Marks to be Awarded

Grade 6 (Pass)

Grade 6 (Satisfactory)

Grade 7 (Pass & Honours)

Grade 6 (Pass, Merit & Distinction)

50

Grade 6 (Merit)

Grade 6 (Credit)

Grade 7 (First Class HonoursCredit)

Grade 7 (Pas & Merit)

55

Grade 6 (Distinction)

Grade 6 (Honours / High Distinction)

Grade 7 (First Class Honours with Distinction)

Grade 7 (Distinction)

60

Grade 7 (Pass)

Grade 7 (Satisfactory)

Grade 8 (Pass & Honours)

Grade 8 (Pass)

65

Grade 7 (Merit)

Grade 7 (Credit)

Grade 8 (First Class HonoursCredit)

Grade 8 (Merit)

70

Grade 7 (Distinction)

Grade 7 (Honours / High Distinction)

Grade 8 (First Class Honours with Distinction)

Grade 8 (Distinction)

75

Grade 8 (Pass)

Grade 8 (Satisfactory)

Grade 9 (Pass & Honours)

Grade 9 (Pass)

80

Grade 8 (Merit)

Grade 8 (Credit)

Grade 9 (First Class HonoursCredit)

Grade9 (Merit)

85

Grade 8 (Distinction)

Grade 8 (Honours / High Distinction)

Grade 9 (First Class Honours with Distinction)

Grade 9 (Distinction)

95

ARSM / DipABRSM / ATCL or above

Associate Diploma or above

Grade 10 (Pass, Honours, First Class Honours or First Class Honours with Distinction) or above

Performance Diploma

100

 

  • Sight-singing is cancelled.
  • The Solo Performance part can be exempted by providing proof of having a recognised qualification.

 

Creating (Paper 3)

Composition Portfolio

Composition Portfolio (16%)

  1. A total duration from 4 to 12 minutes
  2. At least one ensemble piece for two or more performers is included
  3. The two compositions are to be chosen from five different composition briefs.

Set Brief (To be released in August 2024; three years before the exam year thereafter)


For candidates who submit Cantonese operatic composition, their submissions should include a gongchepu (工尺谱) score and a staff-notation transcription of the vocal part(s) in compliance with the audio recording.


For candidates who submit music composition, their submissions should include a music score with the melody and harmonisation in staff notation, alongside lyrics, pop chord symbols, and main-instrument scores, e.g., guitar tabs.

Reflective Report

Reflective Report (4%)

From 400 to 600 words