Music at Saint Edmund's
At Saint Edmund’s we value music because it is a most powerful and unique form of communication that can change and impact the way children feel, think and act. We believe that teaching music helps the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them to learn the sounds and meanings of words. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self-expression. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop their musical potential and we aim to nurture and encourage musical development across the school.
Click here to see the National Currciulum for Music:
How is Music taught?
We follow the Charanga music scheme of work which supports all the requirements of the National Curriculum. The scheme provides clear progression across each year group, engaging and exciting resources and opportunities for assessment. It is an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. Music teaching provides opprtuinties for listening and appraising, musical activities including warm-up games, optional flexible games, singing, playing instruments, improvisation, composition and performing.
During the year, all children will have the opportunity to develop their understanding, skills and techniques in music. We are lucky enough to have an orchestra at Saint Edmund’s which comprises of children across KS2 who play an instrument. The orchestra play for Hymn Practices where singing is also greatly valued, and whole school assemblies.
Our peripatetic teachers who come into school to teach music lessons are giving opportunities for children to learn and develop their skills from an experienced specialist teacher. These teachers deliver lessons for guitar, clarinet and stringed instruments including violin and cello.
What do we want the children to achieve in Music?
By the time children leave our school they will:
• Have a rapidly widened repertoire which they will be able to use to create original, imaginative, fluent and distinctive composing and performance works.
• A musical understanding underpinned by high levels of aural perception, internalisation and knowledge of music, including high or rapidly developing levels of technical expertise.
• Good awareness and appreciation of different musical traditions and genres.
• A good understanding of how musical provenance - the historical, social and cultural origins of music - contributes to the diversity of musical styles.
• The ability to give precise written and verbal explanations, using musical terminology effectively, accurately and appropriately.
• A passion for and commitment to a diverse range of musical activities.