Music

Further videos of music activities are at the bottom of this page. 

Why we teach it

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality musical 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.

At St. Mary’s Bryanston Square, we believe that Music is a vital part of the children’s education and we offer a rich and varied curriculum to aid learning academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

How we teach it

Early Years and KS1 children focus on developing rhythm and pitch as well as an ability to play percussion instruments with care and accuracy. There is a strong focus on singing and encouraging the children to build their own song bank which includes Nursery Rhymes and simple well known children’s favourites. In Year 2, all children learn the violin and lessons are taught by a tutor from our partner organisation, The Tri-borough Music Hub.

Key Stage 2 Music lessons are taught by a specialist teacher. Each class receives a weekly lesson covering the National Curriculum objectives where they learn valuable skills in composition, singing and the use of instruments as well as developing an appreciation of classical musical genres and composers.

In KS2 the children continue to develop their singing as well as beginning to learn to play as an ensemble as they develop towards playing as a soloist. In Year 3 the children to play the recorder and continue to learn to read stave music as well as percussion notation. Year Four learn to play percussion instruments and learn about percussion traditions from around the world and in addition, form a class Samba band. Years Five learn to play and sing music from a wide range of genres, incorporating the musical instruments they have learnt in previous years and Year Six learn to play as a class band, building up to a mass production at the end of the academic year. KS2 children are taught to read and write in notation on the stave and also enjoy an annual visit to a live concert.

Every Music lesson includes listening; the children are taught how to appreciate and interpret a piece or extract of classical music from a range of musical periods or music from different world traditions and from more recent history. Children are exposed to a diverse range of Classical composers.

Children enjoy regular opportunities to perform throughout the school year including church services and musical productions.

The school offers children the opportunity to take private instrumental lessons individually and in small groups. We have two peripatetic teachers who offer lessons on the cello and violin.

Impact

Whilst in school, children have opportunities to forge their own musical journey, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. 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. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - either as 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 in their lives.