Music

"Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon."  (National Curriculum)

Intent

What skills and knowledge do we intend our children to gain?

At St Jude’s Catholic Primary School, we want to develop a love of music where children can be excited by it to be fully engaged.  We want children to come together to sing, be creative and learn to compose and play instruments.  Throughout their time here children will have the opportunity to learn to play different instruments so they can discover and develop their musical talents.  We want to nurture a love of music through listening to a range of genres and creating music together as an expression of faith and solidarity together.

Implementation

How has the curriculum been developed? 

We are very fortunate to have a specialist Hampshire music teacher as part of our staff team.  The music curriculum has been developed with a clear progression of skills through singing, listening, composing, performing/ instrumental performance.  Each unit is directly linked to reflect each class’s topics to enrich children’s learning through a well-chosen content of songs and appreciation of music through listening to different musical styles and from different cultures, and development of musical elements of rhythm and pulse,

dynamics (loud and quiet) and tempo (fast and slow), duration (the length of a sound) timbre and texture (the particular tone or quality of sound that distinguishes one sound from another), and pitch (high and low).

Every year the children will learn to play both the ukulele and recorder with a half term unit on each instrument.

All children perform annually in school concerts for the parents, to showcase what they have learnt.  The end of Year KS2 show is a celebration with contemporary songs.   

The children learn a range of worship songs in weekly singing assembly, of traditional and modern worship songs as well as learning songs for fun or to reflect the season.  It is also an opportunity for the children to learn BSL signing, to be accessible and inclusive for all.  We know that singing together can have a significant impact on the children’s Mental health and Wellbeing.  Singing together can really bring the children together as one community so that we are “Achieving together in God’s Love”. 

Impact

What outcomes will our children achieve as a result of the curriculum they have received?

Our end goal is to instill within all our children a love of music and singing together.  Here at St Jude’s we give children the opportunity to become proficient in two instruments by the time they leave our school.

At St Jude's we have music specialists who lead music lessons for all KS1 and KS2 classes, and lead singing practice one a week. 

Extra Music Provision

The music specialists also offer peripatetic music lessons to individual children as requested by the parent.  They teach a range of musical instruments.  

RockSteady   

Children also have the opportunity to sign up for tuition to play in a rock band.