St Joseph's Music
Intent
At St. Joseph’s, the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions and musical genres.
Our objective is to develop a curiosity for music, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may play in any person’s life.
We are committed to ensuring that children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and that they are able to use their musical skills, knowledge and experiences to involve themselves in music in a variety of different contexts.
We want music to inspire self-confidence in our children through a fun and safe learning environment, and to encourage a feeling of fellowship through shared creation and appreciation of music.
Implementation
Our music curriculum ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded through weekly Music lessons following the Charanga scheme of work, as well as weekly singing sessions through the Diocese Singing Programme.
A tutor comes into school every week to provide expert singing tuition to all year groups across school. Every child at St. Joseph’s is given the opportunity to perform to each other in class and to members of the wider community and their families through assemblies, Masses at church and class productions.
It is really important that all children at St. Joseph’s have access to individual and whole class music tuition. In Years 3, 4 and 5, all children learn a musical instrument. Through partnerships with Calderdale Music, children have access to individual 1:1 music tuition at any age.
We also have a school choir who have sung at many events, including the Calderdale Schools Choir Competition and Voices Together.
Musical Skills and Understanding
The elements of music are taught so that children are able to use the language of music to understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed.
In lessons, children learn about the sounds that instruments make, and in doing so, become familiar with creating notes and reading basic music notation. They also learn how to compose, focusing on different dimensions of music, which in turn deepens their understanding when listening, playing or analysing.
Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, developing their understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.
Wider Opportunities
Whilst at St. Joseph’s, children have the option to access individual instrumental or voice lessons and whole class tuition, allowing them to discover areas of strength and identify areas they might like to improve upon.
This is supported by Calderdale Music and the Diocese of Leeds.
Impact
The nature of music creates opportunities for children to develop fundamental abilities such as achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection.
Music also supports an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually and to ethnicities from across the world.
Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – as listeners, creators or performers. They can dissect music, comprehend its parts, sing and feel a pulse. They enjoy the feeling of togetherness created by singing as a whole school.
Music is also integrated into wider school life and themes such as mindfulness, growth mind-set and British values, through staff modelling and thoughtful selection of musical choices across the curriculum.