Music

“Music is what feelings sound like.”

Music is a big part of our lives at St. John's! Our children get a variety of opportunities to sing and perform in a range of assemblies and concerts throughout the year. Music tuition is available in the school day for string instruments, piano and brass - these sessions are taught by specialist music teachers. There are further opportunities for tuition and singing in our before and after school clubs including guitar, pop choir, ukulele and Irish band.

At St. John’s we use the scheme ‘Sing Up’ for our music curriculum. We have adapted this scheme to suit the needs and abilities of our pupils. Our curriculum is informed by the ‘Model Music Curriculum’. We ensure our music provision is inclusive, where all children are comfortable to work at their own level with realistic expectations, with staff who have the expertise to further develop their skills. We use ‘The Manchester Music Hub’ to support our music provision.

Quotes from our pupil voice:

"Good variety of music in lessons."
"Without music, life would be boring."
"Music is important because when you are sad or down music makes you feel better." 
"It brings people together." 
"I have learnt new songs and how to play the piano." 
"I have learnt music in Humanities when we were learning about Ancient Egypt." 
"I have learnt how to play a C7 and G7."

School Music Development Plan Summary 2024-25

st.johns rc primary school school music development plan summary

Links to support music at home:

https://www.thenational.academy/teachers/programmes/music-primary-ks2-l/units

https://www.thenational.academy/teachers/programmes/music-primary-ks1-l/units

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/z6762sg

SEND

inclusive singing sing up

leading singing in sen settings -sing u

sing up and sing out for autism sing up

singing for special educational needs sen sing up

How do we ensure our music provision is inclusive?

Introduced SEND friendly symbols for the music sessions to ensure they are inclusive. In our lessons we use symbols and pictures not only for musical notations, but for children to understand the structure of the lesson, to reduce cognitive overload.
We use adaptations in our lessons when necessary
SEND music group
Introduced our inclusive ‘Music Learning Powers Certificate’

Music Curriculum Map

st johns whole school overview sum units_at a glance 1 yr cycle june 2023

Music Progression Document

sum skills progression overview 1 yr cycle june 2023

eyfs year 1 bridging document music 1 2.

Music Subject Intent, Implementation and Impact

medium term plan updated

Intent

The intent of the St. John’s RC Primary music scheme is to help the children feel that they are musical, develop their skills and develop a life-long love of music. We pride ourselves on developing the knowledge and skills that children need to become composers, listeners and performers. Our broad curriculum allows our pupils to enjoy, respect and learn about music from all around the world, across generations, local music and music of different traditions.

All of our pupils at some point in their St. John’s journey, will have the opportunity to develop their musical skills of singing, listening, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising, responding to and composing music. Our lessons have a holistic approach which enables us to develop to the whole child. Our children learn various skills such as decision-making, presentation, problem-solving, creative thinking, team-working, leadership and performance skills.

We use the planning from ‘Sing Up’ alongside our own planning, which enables our children to meet their end of key stage attainment targets and aims.

Implementation

Our music provision here at St. John’s is carefully planned to create enriching, engaging and kinaesthetic learning experiences for all of our children:

Performing
Listening and appraising
Composing / improvising

Our whole school music plan shows how the units give each child the opportunity to learn a broad range of skills in an engaging and fun way. It also covers all of the national curriculum attainment targets and shows the progression of each year group, enabling our pupils to build on their previously taught skills, challenging them to achieve the best of their ability.

We also provide music tuition on the following instruments:

Instrumental Tuition

Children can learn a number of instruments including:
Piano one-to-one
Violin – small group
Trumpet
French horn
Cello
Guitar - large group

Trumpets and violins can be loaned out.

After/before school clubs and lunchtime clubs

Irish band (KS2) club before school - paid to supplier
Pop choir (KS2) after school club - paid to supplier
Ukulele group after school club - paid to supplier
Music Makers Y1-3 after school club - paid to supplier
Guitar group after school club - paid to supplier
KS2 Choir (lunchtime) free

Musical experiences

Singing assemblies/hymn practice (separate key stages)
Class assemblies
EYFS/KS1 Christmas shows performed to peers and families
KS2 Carols by Candlelight church service - all KS2 children perform to families
Loreto Carol Service - a selection of singers perform in a service with other schools, led by Loreto High School
Young Voices KS2 trip - children take part in singing in a massed choir, whilst also listening to high quality live music and seeing dance performed
Visits to Loreto High School for musical performances - KS2 children see older peers performing
Christmas Music Concert (instrumental groups) - children perform for peers and family
Guitar concert – Mr Lee’s guitar group perform to parents and KS1/EYFS children.
Easter Stations of the Cross at church - children perform for peers and family
St Patrick’s day performance - children perform for peers and family
Irish Festival – Year 3 perform at Wythenshawe Forum (tin whistle)
Easter Bonnet Parade - Nursery children sing a selection of Easter themed songs to peers and parents
The Big Sing - Y5 and 6 learn 10 songs and perform them in a massed choir at the iconic Bridgewater Hall
Summer Music Concert - children perform for peers and family
Year 6 Show - children perform for peers and family
Nursery Graduation - children perform a selection of songs to family
Picnic in the park – children, parents and staff get to see a live band perform

Free Music Lessons at the Music Centres

Some of our pupils attend the free music centres.

If your child is interested in music as a beginner or would like to continue with tuition or join a band, orchestra or choir. Please don’t hesitate to contact One Education for further details at music@oneeducation.co.uk or visit https://www.oneeducation.co.uk/teaching-learning/music-centres/

Impact

The expected impact of following the St John’s music scheme of work is that children will:

Be confident performers, composers and improvisers using both their voice and other pitched and unpitched instruments
Show appreciation and respect for a wide range of musical styles from around the world, and understand how music is influenced by the wider cultural, social and historical contexts in which it is developed
Have an awareness of how music can be written down, including staff and graphic notation
Demonstrate an enthusiasm for music that feeds into their own self-confidence and individual musical tastes and preferences
Be well prepared to continue their musical journeys at KS3