At St Alphonsus’ Catholic Primary School we plan learning and teaching with a view to enabling each child to achieve their full potential and seek the highest level of personal achievement.
Our Music Vision
At St. Alphonsus’, we want all children to be able to access music regardless of age, ability, nationality or creed. We want every child to develop a love for music and be exposed to an eclectic mix of genres. We want children to be able to express themselves through music; find comfort, joy and pleasure from listening to it, composing it and learning from it. As a catholic school, we want children to embrace the spiritual aspects of music and use it to evolve their Christian journeys. Our school follows the CUSP Scheme of Work which encompasses the new statutory and non-statutory Music Curriculum.
Our Music Intent – Why do we teach music the way we do, and how does it meet the needs of our pupils?
‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity’
(The National Curriculum, 2014)
At St Alphonsus’ Catholic Primary School, our music curriculum intends to inspire creativity and self-expression and encourage our children on their musical journeys, as well as enriching their spirituality. We hope to foster a lifelong love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music, giving every child a platform to shine, regardless of their academic ability. By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers and performers, and composing their own music, we will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians.
High Five
- Pupils will enjoy music, regardless of academic ability with an appreciation of different musical styles, historical periods and genres.
- Pupils are inspired to sing and use their voices individually and in a group.
- Pupils compose and perform their own music using a range of musical instruments.
- Pupils use and understand musical language and terminology.
- Pupils will have a life-long love and passion for music to prepare them for KS3 and beyond.
Implementation of our Music Curriculum – What do we teach? What does it look like?
What music looks like at St Alphonsus’
- Teaching and learning shows progression across all key stages within the strand of music. The Music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate.
Alongside regular music lessons within class, this can be embedded in other classroom activities such as English and Phonics, as well as weekly hymn practice, Liturgy, Collective Worship, assemblies, and performances. The skills of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use the language of music – and the appropriate vocabulary – to discuss it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom, students learn how to play various un-tuned and tuned percussion instruments. In doing so they understand the different principles of creating notes, as well as how to devise and read their own musical scores and basic music notation. They also learn how to compose focusing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion, vocal sounds and technology is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.
Impact of our Music Curriculum – What will be the outcomes we hope to achieve as a result of our music curriculum?
Whilst in school, children have opportunities to explore music, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. Music is accessible to all children and can have a positive impact on having a sense of 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 within the school community and the wider world. Children are able to enjoy music in any way 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.
Useful Information
