Music

Intent 

Music is at the heart of our school – it can be heard as the children first enter their classrooms in the mornings, is played in assemblies and encouraged throughout the school community. We recognise that singing is a great starting point for musical learning and the development of many skills. All children have a wonderful variety of musical opportunities, from our weekly whole school Singing Practice, to taking part in Class Assemblies. We intend to create a strong and positive bond within our school and join the community together – marking significant moments by singing together and listening to music for example, Trinity Church Celebration at Christmas, Sing For Peace and Sing Up.

We aim to meet the expectations of the National Curriculum for Music which are to:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Implementation

At SPJS, we use the Charanga scheme alongside the Model Music Curriculum to deliver music lessons. This helps children to develop and progress their skills from KS1 and throughout KS2. Teachers are able to confidently deliver music lessons by following a structure and progression of lessons, increasing in depth throughout their time at SPJS. The plans involve the use of games, singing, instruments, improvisation and composition in lessons to:

• Encourage the children to have fun and enjoy listening to different styles of music.
• Recognise instruments and features of key musical styles.
• Encourage confident discussion using accurate musical language.

All children receive lessons on learning a musical instrument. Working with Sutton Music Trust, a Wider Opportunities programme is provided to all our children. In year 3, learning the recorder. In year 4, learning the ukelele. In year 5, learning the djembo drums and in year 6, learning Digital Music Production.

Additional opportunities for singing are provided through our choir which is offered to all children. This involves learning songs, performing at our annual Christmas Carol Concert, held at Trinity Church and also venturing out into the community to sing. They have many opportunities to perform in the Spring and Summer Terms including at our annual Music Concert. As well as weekly music lessons, children are exposed to a Song of the day, Singing Practice, Class Assemblies and composers of the month in assemblies.

We are well resourced, with instruments ranging from xylophones to boom whackers and Djembe drums! There is a tradition of regular musical presentations at the school, whether it is a performance of individual musical item or a full scale musical! The Year 6 end-of-year Production is always a wonderful musical experience, never to be forgotten!

Children will learn to read music and perform in groups. We are committed to the provision of peripatetic instrumental teaching at Stanley Park Junior School. There are opportunities for children to study the guitar, violin, piano, percussion and brass with visiting tutors. All of these children are encouraged to play at our concerts.

All our plans at SPJS take into consideration the Model Music Curriculum and Sutton Music Trust guidance.

Impact

By the time pupils leave SPJS, we would like them to have a love for music. They will have opportunities to shape their musical journey to discover areas of strength, as well as areas that they may need to develop. The integral nature of music and the learner creates an enormously rich palette from which a child may access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - as either listener, creator or performer. They can discuss music and comprehend its parts. They can sing, feel a pulse, add rhythms and create melodies in a group and they can further develop these skills in the future and continue to enjoy and embrace music within their lives.

If you would like more information about how this subject is taught, please email the school office at office@spjs.org

 Subject Leaders: D Lasrado and B Knight