Curricula

The final examinations at the lycées (non-compulsory optional subjects) consist of two parts. The first part comprises a comparative comment on the set work: the candidate hears an extract from two set works, each one three times, and presents his or her personal considered comment. Through discussion with the jury and the jury members’ questions a more precise and thorough analysis is achieved. In the second part, the pupil is expected to perform a piece of music from the repertoire either on a musical instrument or vocally; he or she may be accompanied by a second person. The jury consists of music teachers from the lycée and music conservatoires.

The final examination in the literature-arts-music option (baccalaureat “L” arts-musique) begins with a two-part written examination. The first part consists of a piece of music that the candidate has listened to and involves reading the music and answering questions posed by the jury. In the second part the pupil analyses a short extract and presents a critique of it. The examination has a coefficient of 3, and lasts three and a half hours (two and one and a half). In the practical music examination the candidate must perform a piece of music he or she has selected, either vocally or on an instrument. In the ensuing discussion, he or she must then defend the chosen approach to and interpretation of the piece. To finish, the candidate chooses a work from a list of suggested pieces (see appendix), listens to it, comments on it and answers questions on it asked by the jury.

For the final examination in the TMD option (Technique de la musique et de la danse), 10 points of a coefficient of 20 are reserved for special music lessons. The candidate sits a four-hour examination in music theory (dictation and analysis, coefficient 3), a 20-minute musical performance (coefficient 4) and a four-hour examination in music history (coefficient 3).