Music

Music

Music Intent and Implementation 

At Clayton St John Primary School, we teach Music in line with the National Curriculum. We want music lessons to be fun and inspiring, engaging the children with songs, lyrics and movement. We want children to feel able to be expressive and develop their own appreciation of music.   

Music is planned in line with the statements laid out in the national curriculum with Sing Up being used to provide extra support and resources to enhance music teaching. Sing Up provides many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre.   

The Sing Up Scheme provides teachers with week-by-week lesson support for each year group in the school from Nursery to Year 6. It also provides essential teaching resources to aid with the delivery of lessons. The Scheme supports all the requirements of the national curriculum.  

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

Through our music lessons children are actively involved in a wide range of musical opportunities. Children develop their singing voices, using body percussion and whole body actions, and learning to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform.  During music lessons children will be given opportunities to learn music specific vocabulary in a meaningful context. During the lesson children will be given the opportunities to apply skill and given chance for collaboration through composition.   

From Summer 2024 we will follow the Sing Up scheme of work. The Medium term plans below shows the learning journey our learners will take in music at Clayton St John.  

Visitors 

We have been very lucky this year and had a number of visitors to school. Children from all year groups have had the opportunity to listen to live music and take part in interactive, musical work shops. Below are some photos of the workshops we have had in school this year.  

Choir  

We have established a whole school choir here at Clayton St John. Children from Years 1 – 6 are able to attend and take part in a variety of performances and productions. So far this year we have been involved with the Music Hub and performed at St Georges Hall for the school proms, we collaborated with other BDAT schools at Bradford Cathedral for a Christmas Concert and we have collaborated with our community choir here in Clayton and Queensbury. We have enjoyed a number of performances with them at St John’s Church.  

Our choir have had some fantastic experiences this year and they have made some amazing memories which we are sure will stay with them forever.  

Below is a selection of photos from some of Choir’s performances over the last year.  

Would your child like to play in their very own band?

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Rocksteady in-school band lessons are the perfect opportunity for your child to learn to play an instrument, develop life skills, have fun, gain confidence, and boost their wellbeing. As, they progress through the Rocksteady curriculum, they will collect up to 300 different instrument, musicianship, and performance skills along the way.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Lessons are held during the school day. There’s no experience necessary and all instruments are provided, so it’s very inclusive and accessible.

• Your child can choose from drums, vocals, keyboard, electric or bass guitar (subject to availability). They’ll join their band mates for a weekly 30-minute lesson, where together they’ll learn to play their favourite songs. • You can proudly watch as your child performs in their end of term performance, showing you and their friends just how far they have come, and how far they could go. You can also follow their musical journey in your Parent Timeline from your Backstage account.

• Loved and trusted by thousands of schools, lessons are taught by experienced professional musicians who make music education fun. Your child’s band leader will support and inspire them, while making sure they progress at their own pace.

• Your child will become either a Mini Rocker (Reception to Year 2), Rock Hero (Year 3 and Year 4) or a Rock Icon (Year 5 and Year 6).

Places are offered on a first come, first served basis. Selecting different instrument options will also give you the best chance of getting a place.

For more details on availability and cost, visit rocksteadymusicschool.com and find your school on the sign up page or call 0330 113 0330.

Best wishes, Rachel Hawker | Director of Education

Looking to the future 

Next year we have arranged, with the Music and Arts service, for whole class instrumental lessons to take place. Initially this will be for Year 3 children with a view, moving forward, to expand into other year groups. Our children are looking forward to learning an instruments and we can’t wait to get our Brass Band up and running! Watch this space!  

If you  would like any further information about instruments of vocal lessons, please contact the Music and Arts service. Details can be found below.  

Swing Low, Big Sing event

A musical heritage project co-ordinated by Bradford Theatres ad the Music and Arts service.  

This is a learning programme leading to a Big Sing event at St George’s Hall, involving a local gospel choir on stage with invited guests from Bradford’s African and Caribbean communities. Our Year 3 children are looking forward to attending the event.  

Instrumental and vocal lessons : Instrumental & Vocal lessons - Bradford Music Education Hub (bradfordmusiconline.co.uk) 

Demonstration videos: Demonstration Videos - Bradford Music Education Hub (bradfordmusiconline.co.uk) 

Bradford Music and Arts Service are also participating in a national social media campaign designed to promote instrumental learning. Below are their social media handles #GetPlaying: 

Facebook @bradfordmusiceducationhub  

Twitter @BradfordMusic1  

Instagram @bradformusicandarts  

#GetPlaying