Music
“With music, one’s whole future life is brightened. This is such a treasure in life that it helps us over many troubles and difficulties. Music is nourishment, a comforting elixir. Music multiplies all that is beautiful and of value in life.” – Zoltan Kodaly
Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music 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. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.
Music lessons are lively, interactive and inclusive, encouraging a passion for music through listening, composing and performing using both voices and instruments. Music is a strength of our school with high quality whole school singing assemblies weekly and singing together daily. We also encourage children to take up an instrument in addition to their class lessons supported by tutors from Bristol Plays Music.
Our music scheme of work follows the Bristol Music Curriculum. Children are taught musical notation and focus is placed on secure understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music through practical music making. This provides a broad balance of performance, listening and composition opportunities, creating an enriching curriculum that celebrates music from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.
Within Key Stage 2, professional musicians from Bristol Plays Music are invited to teach alongside our staff. Further aspirational opportunities for the children are provided as children frequently attend concert venues in the city to perform and listen to live music.
Whole school events embrace music and are a highlight of our school calendar. Our Christmas Performances showcase our singing ability and our annual Carol singing brings together the whole community including Parents and Governors. Children have the opportunity to sing or perform using an instrument at our Annual Music Concert – individually, in groups and as a whole class.
We use music to celebrate and share collective emotion. Music is an important part of collective worship and brings together the school in song and reflection. Close partnership with Bristol Plays Music, Handfuls of Harmony and other arts groups enriches our provision and helps provide a stimulating musical experience in the classroom and rich extra-curricular provision.
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We are excited to be following the award winning Get on Board – Music Curriculum for Bristol. The Music Curriculum for Bristol has been developed by Bristol Plays Music in consultation with teachers and tailored to Bristol schools. It contains a complete resource that spans Reception to Year 6. The first phase of lesson plans begin with themes of water and air and include topics such as the ss Great Britain and sea shanties, balloons, kites and aeroplanes before moving on to the theme of rhythm for phase two. In phase three pitch has been introduced with a focus on songs and part singing, together with chronology where plans and resources support teaching an overview of the history of music |
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The lessons have been split into three levels: Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 (years 3-4) and Key Stage 2 (years 5-6). ? KS1 complete four units over the course of the year Unit 1: Air Unit 2: Water Unit 3: Animal Rhythms Unit 4: Handa's Surprise Year 3 Unit 1: Air Unit 2: Water Unit 3: Junk Percussion Unit 4: Indian Music Year 6 Unit 1: Air Unit 2: Water Unit 3: Trains Unit 4: Samba |
For more information on Bristol Plays Music visit the website ?https://www.bristolplaysmusic.org
