GCSE Music OCR Complete Revision & Practice (with Audio & Online Edition): perfect for the 2025 and 2026 exams (CGP GCSE Music)

Helped with revision

Good purchase

Like the AQA Complete Revision and Practice book, this one goes into terrific detail about so many musical forms. As great as this is, I still think a few details need to be added, if they can find any room in future publications! In the opening section on performing, I think a note should be added that there is more to dynamics than just increasing or decreasing volume! They do mention the importance of tempo, mood, articulation and phrasing, so I guess that's more or less covered. In the Music Technology section, a great deal of attention is given to using Synthesizers and Sequencers. I feel that there ought to be a caviat that even here a student should still have a basic musical knowledge. I'm sure even Brian Eno has picked some up through his career! There is terrific detail on Classical Indian, African, Isreali and Calypso music - really impressive.To the book's credit, the role of the Conductor is described beautifully. There really is more to it than just waving his or her arms around. In the Composition section, when talking about Modulations, the Abrupt Modulation is mentioned. There ought to be a warning that aside from creating sudden, dramatic effects to (hopefully) give the music an excited and uplifting feeling, sometimes it can sound plain awful. There are many examples of Abrupt modulations being the memorable moment you'd rather forget - 'Strangers in the Night' and 'You're in the Army Now' spring to mind...I still question the user-friendliness of the much-noted 'Circle of Fifths': It is still really complicated to work out. There are a selection of useful mnemonic systems that make sharps and flats remembrance much easier. The 'Circle' mixes up sharp and flat keys too much.In the section devoted to Voices of Pop and Jazz, many vocal mannerisms are listed, with only references to fashionable singers such as the 'Riffing' of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. Surely in the paragraph on Scat singing Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerarald should take their places. Falsetto inevitably mentions Sam Smith, Bee Gees and Michael Jackson. No Frankie Valli....There is one major mistake in the section on The Beatles. 'They also used pioneering recording techniques such as Sampling'. There was no such thing as what we know as Sampling during The Beatles' career. They used Tape Loops of sounds from many sources. Tape Loops are totally different to Sampling, particularly in the Labour Intensity of their use!Despite the numerous criticisms, this is still a great source of musical information. Just be careful not to swallow it all!

Great book

Everything it's supposed to be.

Happy with music book and came fast a little pricey though.

Great product, thank you.

Great product