Intent: We aim to provide an enjoyable and challenging music curriculum which gives pupils the opportunity to sing, play, create and perform, both individually and collaboratively. Developing musicianship skills, through active music-making and exposure to a global range of music, gives pupils a wide understanding and appreciation of music and feeds into their own creativity and self expression. Pupils become confident composers, creators and performers with an understanding of musical notation, the skills to critically evaluate their own and others’ performances and a passion to learn about and share their love of music.
To ensure the highest standard of music teaching in our school all our lessons are taught by specialist music teachers from Sing Education. If you would like to see music lessons in action at our school do watch this video of our fantastic music teachers.
In accordance with government guidelines, music lessons in the autumn term will not include singing. Instead, music lessons will focus on non-vocal aspects of the curriculum such as rhythm work, glockenspiels, listening and body movement to music.
In Nursery and Reception children begin to experience the joy of making music together, through singing games, songs, rhymes and listening activities. Using their bodies and untuned percussion, children learn to move and play in time to music. Children develop their ability to recognise and recall songs and to pitch-match, and are introduced to solo and small-group singing through games. Singing assemblies, collective worship and Christmas performances give children opportunities to share their singing skills with the wider school community.
In KS1 pupils enjoy whole class music lessons learning about pitch, pulse and rhythm through songs, chants and musical games. Pupils are encouraged to discover and develop their singing voices and delight in learning ensemble skills with glockenspiels and other percussion instruments. Whole year group singing performances in Reception and Year 1 give pupils the exciting experience of performing music before an audience.
In music lessons in KS2, pupils’ active listening skills, appreciation of music and understanding of musical theory are developed through exploring classical musical, pop music, musical theatre and world music from around the globe. With singing and making-music together at the core, music lessons provide exciting opportunities to perform, compose and reflect, both as an individual and as part of an ensemble. Singing assemblies further develop pupils’ confidence in using their voices and pupils have regular opportunities to sing in school mass and class led collective worship. In Year 6 the end of year musical is a highlight of the school year as all 120 pupils come together on stage to produce a piece of musical theatre, performed to an audience of over 200 for three consecutive nights.
Please find an overview of our music curriculum below. Music Curriculum Overview 2020/21
In addition to the core music curriculum, we offer piano, guitar, clarinet, violin and brass lessons at school and a range of music clubs, including choir, gospel choir, recorder club and lunchtime singing games in the playground. We have a growing number of small musical concerts which are performed each year by our pupils who are studying brass, string and piano.
