Music Curriculum Intent:
To develop in children a loving and attentive response to the music that surrounds them. To encourage them to be curious and discerning as they encounter new styles of music, as well as being fully active in their own composition and performances. To ensure they become increasingly more eloquent in their ability to describe musical elements and the emotional response music evokes.
Music Curriculum Implementation:
At St. Mary’s, we will plan and deliver a range of musical activities that develop the children’s abilities to:
• Perform - this concept involves understanding that music is created to be performed.
• Compose - this concept involves appreciating that music is created through a process which has a number of techniques.
• Transcribe - this concept involves understanding that compositions need to be understood by others and that there are techniques and a language for communicating them.
• Describe music - this concept involves appreciating the features and effectiveness of musical elements.
As recommended by the 2021 Model Music Curriculum, students in KS2 should receive whole class instrumental tuition for a minimum of one term. At St Mary's we are proud to go above and beyond this expectation, currently providing our Year 3 and Year 4 students with a year of whole class ukulele lessons provided by our local Music Service, SIPS. Our music lessons across the school follow the KAPOW scheme of work with additional resources from Out of The Ark to enhance provision in our Early Years.
Additionally, we provide regular musical performance opportunities for all of our students to take them beyond their classroom learning. In the academic year 2023-2024, we have programmed a range of opportunities, including a Nativity performance, carol concerts, local choir performances, a WW2 themed tea party, Year 6 production and many more.
Music is a big part of the Catholic Worship at St Mary's. Our students engage in regular hymn practice and their voices can often be heard at St Mary's Church during Mass and special celebrations.
A St. Mary's Musician has:
• A rapidly widening repertoire which they use to create original, imaginative, fluent and distinctive composing and performance work.
• A developing musical understanding underpinned by high levels of aural perception, internalisation and knowledge of music, including high or rapidly developing levels of technical expertise.
• Very good awareness and appreciation of different musical traditions and genres.
• An excellent understanding of how musical provenance - the historical, social and cultural origins of music - contributes to the diversity of musical styles.
• The ability to give precise written and verbal explanations, using musical terminology effectively, accurately and appropriately.
• A passion for and commitment to a diverse range of musical activities.
• An active role to play in the singing and sharing of secular music within school life.
Music Curriculum Progression:
Instrumental Tuition:
To give our students the best musical opportunities possible, we offer additional weekly instrumental tuition to students in KS2. Our current lessons are provided by SIPS music for brass and woodwind students. For a subsidised cost of £50 per term, students can access weekly lessons in small groups, an instrument of their own, sheet music and accessories. We are very proud of the students pursuing this additional opportunity and they have additional performance opportunities. SIPS music run external ensembles in the local area, which our students are encouraged.
Instruments currently being taught at St Mary's through SIPS Music:
Ukulele.
Cornet / Trumpet,
Tenor Horn,
Baritone,
Trombone,
Flute,
Clarinet,
Oboe.
