Saint Mary’s Catholic Primary School

MUSIC CURRICULUM STATEMENT

Intent

At Saint Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we encourage all children to become musicians, and to develop a life-long love of music. We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need in order to become confident performers, composers, and listeners. We introduce children to music from all around the world and across generations, teaching children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.

Children learn music in a safe environment where their contributions are valued. They will develop the musical skills of singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising and composing music, and listening and responding to music. Children will develop an understanding of the history and cultural context of the music they listen to and learn how music can be written down. Our music curriculum teaches children to appreciate, enjoy, compose and experience music as a means to positive wellbeing and mental health, and helps them understand that music can be a great way to express feelings.

Implementation

The coverage of the Music curriculum allows children opportunities to sing, learn instruments, practice, and perform, as well as develop musical knowledge.

Opportunities for cross-curricular links are taken, wherever possible, to link music with other subject areas and learning themes. Through our music curriculum, children learn to sing together, appreciate, and analyse a variety of musical pieces from throughout the eras and the world, play musical instruments with their peers, identify musical features in pieces and use this to compose, practise and perform their own pieces.

As well as whole-class music lessons which all children engage with, Saint Mary’s also provides other opportunities for children to experience music: all children take part in whole-school singing; and children have the opportunity to join the Young Voices choir, play in a rock band, or have private instrument tuition. We also encourage opportunities to perform to the school and the wider community via an end of year production, Christmas Nativity, Rocksteady concerts, assemblies, and other choir performances.

Impact

Children build their skills in listening, appraising and performing music throughout their time at Saint Mary’s. They are able to manipulate different instruments and enjoy creating pieces together. They perform well in whole class sessions both working in groups and individually. Throughout their time at Saint Mary’s children are encouraged to review the work they produce and practise to perfect it. Therefore, learning and impact of their learning is of a high standard. Pupils at Saint Mary's enjoy learning about and listening to music, and take pride in performing. Having the opportunity to learn a chosen instrument and perform pieces develops their self-confidence and self-esteem.