Music

Music at St John and St Francis Church School

Music Lead – Mrs Paula Edwards

At St John and St Francis Church School our vision is to provide a high-quality music education that engages and inspires pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

We use the ‘Charanga Musical School Scheme’ throughout EYFS and KS1. Charanga uses a practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. The interrelated dimensions of music weave through the units to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing.

Each Unit of Work comprises the of strands of musical learning which correspond with the national curriculum for music:

1. Listening and Appraising
2. Musical Activities
   1. Warm-up Games
   2. Optional Flexible Games
   3. Singing
   4. Playing instruments
   5. Improvisation
   6. Composition
3. Performing

Charanga Musical School Units of Work enable children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills.

The strands of musical learning, presented within the lesson are part of the learning spiral. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts. Mastery means both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new.

Curriculum Overview Grid EYFS/KS1

• Progression of Knowledge and Skills EYFS
• Progression of Knowledge and Skills Year 1
• Progression of Knowledge and Skills Year 2
• Pupil Voice Music
• Music Development Plan

For the teaching and learning throughout KS2 we employ a range of music specialist teachers from Somerset Music who deliver the National Curriculum for Music, including instrument lessons. In Year 4 the children learn Ukulele and in Y6 the children learning drumming.

• Somerset Music Progression Document

We also offer our pupils in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 the opportunity to take part in individual and small group instrument lessons in Piano, Ukulele and Violin. These lessons are taught by Somerset Music tutors and are delivered on a weekly basis. Children are also invited to attend an after school choir club led by Miss Young and Mrs Edwards.