Music
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At St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that music has the power to inspire, connect and enrich children's lives.
Our music curriculum gives every child the opportunity to listen, perform, create and develop their musical understanding. We want children to experience the joy of making music together, discover their own musical talents and develop the confidence to express themselves creatively.
Music is an important part of our Catholic life and school community. Through singing, worship, performance and musical experiences, children develop a strong sense of belonging and learn how music can bring people together.
A Musical Journey
Our music curriculum is carefully sequenced from the Early Years through to Year 6, enabling children to build their knowledge, skills and confidence over time.
Children develop their understanding of:
• singing and performing
• listening and responding to music
• rhythm, pulse and beat
• pitch and melody
• notation and musical vocabulary
• composition and improvisation
• playing instruments
• different musical styles, traditions and cultures.
As children progress through the school, they develop increasing independence and confidence as performers, composers and listeners.
Every Child a Musician
We believe that every child can enjoy and succeed in music.
Children have regular opportunities to sing, play instruments, compose and perform. Lessons are designed to be accessible and engaging while providing appropriate challenge so that pupils can develop their skills at their own pace.
We encourage children to experiment with sound, make musical choices and develop their own ideas. Mistakes are seen as part of the creative process, helping children become resilient and confident musicians.
Singing and Performance
Singing is an important part of life at St Vincent’s.
Children sing regularly in class, assemblies, worship and celebrations. They have opportunities to perform to different audiences and develop confidence through sharing their musical achievements.
Performance teaches children much more than musical skills. It develops teamwork, concentration, resilience, confidence and a sense of pride in contributing to something together.
Learning to Play Instruments
Children have opportunities to develop practical instrumental skills as they move through the school.
Through classroom music and additional tuition, pupils can learn to play a range of instruments and develop their understanding of musical notation, technique and performance.
We encourage children to discover instruments that interest them and to continue developing their musical skills beyond the classroom.
Composing and Creating
Music provides children with opportunities to express ideas and emotions creatively.
Pupils are encouraged to compose and improvise using voices, instruments and technology. They explore rhythm, melody, dynamics, tempo and texture and learn how different musical choices can create different effects.
As they progress through the school, children become increasingly confident in creating, recording and performing their own musical ideas.
Listening and Appreciating
Children are exposed to a rich and diverse range of music from different periods, cultures and traditions.
They learn to listen carefully and respond to music using increasingly developed musical vocabulary. Pupils explore the work of significant composers and musicians and develop an understanding of how music reflects different cultures, communities and historical periods.
This helps children develop an appreciation of music and an understanding that music can communicate ideas, emotions and experiences in many different ways.
Music and Our Catholic Life
Music plays an important role in our worship and Catholic identity.
Through hymns, sacred music, singing and liturgical celebrations, children experience the ways in which music can express faith, prayer and community.
We want children to understand that music can be a powerful way of expressing gratitude, hope, joy and reflection and bringing people together in worship.
Wider Musical Opportunities
We want every child to have opportunities to experience music beyond their regular classroom lessons.
Pupils may take part in choirs, performances, concerts, musical events and instrumental opportunities. We also seek opportunities for children to experience live music and engage with musicians and performers.
These experiences help children discover new interests, develop confidence and recognise their own potential.
Supporting Every Musician
We have high expectations for every pupil and believe that all children can participate meaningfully in music.
Teachers use adaptive teaching to ensure that pupils can access musical learning and develop their skills. Children who need additional support are provided with appropriate resources, modelling and encouragement, while pupils who show particular interest or talent are given opportunities to deepen their learning and perform.
We are committed to ensuring that disadvantaged pupils, vulnerable pupils and pupils with SEND can participate fully in our musical life and experience the benefits that music brings.
A Lifelong Love of Music
By the time children leave St Vincent’s, we want them to have developed musical knowledge, practical skills and the confidence to perform, compose and listen with understanding.
Most importantly, we want every child to discover the joy of music and recognise that they have a voice and a contribution to make.
Through music, children learn to listen, collaborate, create and express themselves. They develop confidence, creativity and resilience while experiencing the sense of connection that comes from making music together.
We want every child to achieve, belong and thrive through music and to have the confidence to let their light shine.
At St Vincent’s we aspire to make the learning ambitious for all learners. Our school curriculum includes the knowledge, skills and life experiences children need to thrive. Our learning is carefully planned and sequenced using the National Curriculum that can be found below:
Knowledge and skills are built on from previous years and there is clear progression in each subject. You can see an overview of progression below:
Music Progression Skills - Instruments and Notation
Each curriculum area is taught across the year and evidenced on a long term plan, divided into half termly blocks. You can see the long term plan below:
Music Development Plan 2024/25
Music Developments Spring 2024
Each child is given the opportunity to experience Music in hymn practices, weekly lessons, opportunities to perform and exposure to different genres in the classroom. The children are encouraged to:
- Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a breadth of historical periods.
- Learn to use their voices expressively through singing. They are able to compose their own music alongside their peers and learn how to develop their voices.
- Explore the musical creation process and develop their awareness of the inter-related dimensions such as: pitch, duration, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
In addition to our classroom based offer, we have a wide range of Music lessons delivered by specialist teachers. The music teachers come into school once a week and offer paired or individual twenty minute lessons for the guitar, violin, piano, or wind instrument.
Lessons in School:
If you would like your child to receive lessons in school, please use the contact details below.
Woodwind & String Instruments: Violin, Viola, Guitar, Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet, Bassoon: Follow link to sign up
Piano: Alison Gee https://www.alisongeepiano.uk/
Trafford Music Service:
Trafford Music Service have an extensive programme of singing and instrumental ensembles for children of different ages and abilities, based at The Claremont Centre in Sale. Please follow the link to their timetable of ensemble groups: https://traffordmusicservice.co.uk/ensembles/timetable/ They also offer a wide range of lessons. Please follow this link for further information about lessons available: https://traffordmusicservice.co.uk/music-lessons/
