Music

Subject Leader - Mrs Helen Smith

Link Governor - Mr Patrick Weaver

Curriculum Intent

Music is a powerful, unique form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act. It brings together intellect and feeling, and enables personal expression, reflection and emotional development. As an integral part of culture, past and present, it helps pupils understand themselves and relate to others, forging important links between the home, school and the wider world.

The teaching of music develops pupils’ ability to listen and appreciate a wide variety of music and to make judgements about musical quality.

At St. John’s, the main aim of our music teaching is for each child to develop a musical self. The whole approach is very practical with plenty of singing and musical activity. In addition to class music, there are opportunities throughout the school for children to join in violin, guitar, flute, drums, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and recorder lessons. Many of our junior children play a musical instrument. There are also school productions throughout the year where much singing and music-making takes place.

Curriculum Implementation

 Every child has Music lessons; 1 hour a week in EYFS and KS1 and 1 hour a fortnight at KS2. The curriculum is designed to acquire and build upon the skills of listening, composing and performing music. All children have the opportunity to try musical instruments including percussion, Boomwhackers, recorders and keyboards. IN EYFS children learn music through simple songs and rhymes and begin to explore different rhythms through clapping games and using untuned percussion. In KS1 children are encouraged to build on their current knowledge and skills through songs, music games and learning basic notation through playing recorders. At KS2 the children are encouraged to build upon their theoretical knowledge through looking at different musical eras, composing music for TV adverts and learning songs from musical theatre.

All children take part in weekly hymn practice and they sing regularly in assemblies and at church.

We also have a number of peripatetic music teachers coming into school to deliver instrumental lessons.

 Units are organised on the same 2 year rolling topic plan as the rest of the school so that children are encouraged to use and apply their knowledge from other subject areas eg. science as they encounter new vocabulary in a variety of formats. Details of the Music Learning Journey can be found here: Music Learning Journey

Knowledge Planners

Stomp!​

Samba​

Musical Theatre​

Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals​