Music

Intent

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. Our high-quality music education will engage and inspire our children to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. We want our children to gain a secure understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Our children need to understand the value and importance of music to their own and others’ lives and well-being and also the impact music has in the wider community. We understand the benefits of a challenging and fun music education and make it part of our daily practice - through Gospel or class assemblies, music lessons from Ealing Music Service or musical experiences embedded into our broad curriculum.

Implementation

The music curriculum at St. Joseph’s ensures children sing, listen, play, perform, compose, improvise and evaluate across a wide range of styles, historical periods, musical genres and traditions. Planning is informed by and aligned with the National Curriculum and supported by progression of skills. Repeating a musical skill allows pupils to strengthen their musical understanding in order to improve the quality of their musicianship. All children have the opportunity to develop these musical skills practically and creatively. As our children progress through the school, they develop a critical engagement with music allowing them to listen with discrimination, evaluate and compose. Music lessons are inclusive and all children have access to music regardless of their academic ability. We recognise that there are children of widely different musical abilities in all classes, so we provide suitable learning opportunities for all children by matching the challenge of the task to the ability of the child.

We believe that music enriches the lives of people so every year, different year groups are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of musical activities. Nursery, Reception and Year 1 participate in a Christmas Nativity, Year 2 participate in a Carol Service, Year 5 participate in an Advent Service, Year 3 and 6 participate in Summer productions which all allow children to showcase their musical abilities. We also put on a Music Evening in the Spring term and provide other special opportunities for children to perform, such as class assemblies. Parents of the performing children are invited to these musical events.

Impact

Our children leave St. Joseph’s with the ability to perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. Our children are able to use their voices to create and compose music on their own and with others. Some children take up the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in their own time and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence.