Music at St Benedict's C oF E VA Junior School

Intent:

‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity.’  (National Curriculum)

At St Benedict’s, our Music curriculum intends to inspire creativity and self-expression and to encourage children on their musical journeys as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others. We hope to foster a life-long love of Music by exposing them to a diverse range of musical experiences and igniting a passion for Music within some children. By listening and responding to different musical styles, we hope that all children will become confident, reflective musicians and to find their ‘voices’ as singers, players, performers and composers. We hope it will play a part in their understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of ‘Life in all its Fullness’ (John 10:10).

Implementation:

The Music curriculum at St Benedict’s ensures that children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded through classroom Music lessons which follow the National Curriculum Guidelines, as well as weekly singing assemblies, various performances, the learning of instruments and the joining of extra-curricular music groups. The elements of Music are taught in classroom lessons so children are able to use the language of Music to discuss it and to understand how it is made, played and appreciated.  In the classroom, children learn how to play a range of pitched and unpitched percussion instruments and also to play the recorder. In doing so they understand the different principles of creating notes and sounds, as well as learning how to devise and read their own musical scores and basic staff notation. They also learn how to compose using instruments, vocal sounds and body percussion, which in turn, feeds their understanding when listening, playing or analysing music.

Impact:

Whilst in school, children follow their own musical journey, which allows them to discover areas of strength as well as areas they might like to improve on. Music offers 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 and understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually and to ethnicities across the world. Children are able to enjoy Music in as many ways as they choose - as listener, performer, creator or critic. They can discuss and understand its parts, sing, feel a pulse and create rhythms and melodies. They are then able to further develop these skills in the future and continue to enjoy and embrace Music in their lives.