Music Statement
‘With joyful hearts, we love, learn and praise as the family of God’
Intent
At Sacred Heart we believe that all pupils should be given the opportunity to listen to, appreciate, perform and explore a wide range of music styles and genres, including the works of the great classical composers and modern musical influences. As an integral part of their cultural capital, past and present, it helps pupils understand themselves and relate to others, forging important links between the home, school and the wider world.
Our music curriculum encourages pupils to express themselves and to become confident performers. At Sacred Heart we use music throughout many aspects of school life, enabling and developing positive learning environments such that pupils feel confident to perform in front of their peers in small groups, larger concerts and school masses.
We recognise the importance of our local area and the influence this has on our pupils’ musical heritage, providing opportunities for pupils to become involved in local music festivals, performing for local residents and competitions alongside whole school end of year music celebrations. We strive to ensure our music curriculum is diverse and responsive to the interests of the pupils, such that the engagement remains high and pupils feel positive about their musical journey.
Through our music curriculum, pupils will understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated including through gaining knowledge of pitch, duration, tempo, structure and musical notations. Our pupils enjoy singing and they will learn to use their voices effectively whilst recognising the importance of vocal warm ups. They will learn to create and compose music on their own and with others; have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and use technology appropriately.
Implementation
Please click here to see the Long Term Plan for this year.
Our music curriculum is taught as a spiral curriculum, building on and revisiting prior skills. It is designed to meet the requirements of the 2014 National Curriculum for Years 1-6 along with the 2021 Model Music Curriculum and ensures that children sing, listen, compose and perform through class group activities as well as whole school assemblies, hymn practises, school Mases, learning of instruments, concerts and performances.
We have a well-resourced music provision, which includes a range of percussion and tuned instruments. A specialist music teacher enhances our curriculum through weekly whole class teaching across Key Stage 1 and 2 with a focus on knowledge of percussion instruments in Key Stage 1. In Key Stage 2, pupils are taught through a combination of specialist music teaching and wherever possible, we maximise the expertise of teaching staff in the delivery of the music curriculum with opportunities for teachers to lead in whole class teaching of Recorder in Year 3 and Glockenspiel in Year 4. In Year 5, pupils have specialist tuition in the Ukulele with Year 6 developing composition skills using a range of instruments and App based programs.
Pupils in Early Years explore and experiment with music through the aspect of Exploring and Using Media and Materials as part of the Early Years Curriculum.
To further enhance pupil’s experiences of music, pupils from Year 4-6 have the opportunity to take part in small group guitar lessons delivered by a specialist teacher alongside their whole class lessons.
To celebrate their achievements, pupils perform in a Musical Extravaganza at Christmas and at the end of the year. This involves groups performing pieces they have worked on together as well as allowing for individual performances.
Throughout the school, pupils are also given opportunities to perform in wider musical workshops including performing with the Halle orchestra in their ‘Come and Play’ event; playing at the Bridgewater Hall as part of ‘The Big Sing’; alongside the regular performances as part of school assemblies, school mass and special events within the local community including Festival Manchester held at Wythenshawe Park.
Opportunities for assessment are provided through practical music-making, listening to pupils talking, playing and responding to music. We evidence this learning and progress in key skills within music across the year through audio and/or video recordings of pupil’s work. Pupils are also involved in self and peer assessment of their compositions and performances.
Impact
At Sacred Heart we aim for our pupils to become confident performers and musicians who will have a good understanding of how music is composed and developed.
Whilst in school, pupils have access to a rich and varied program, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. The curriculum will support children in building their resilience and self-reflection whist providing positive challenges in a secure environment.
Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to pupils individually, as well as ethnicities from across our school family and wider world. Pupils are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - either as listener, creator or performer.