The importance of primary music
‘Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our schools, music can bring communities together through the shared endeavour of whole school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and, through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils, performing. The sheer joy of music-making can feed the soul of a school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which make a great school’.
DfE Model Music Curriculum
Our ambition
- For children to discover music and to develop a life-long love of it.
- For children to develop the knowledge and understanding they need to become confident performers, composers and listeners.
- To introduce children to music from all around the world and across generations.
- For children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.
- For children to develop an understanding of the history and cultural context of the music they listen to and how music can be written down.
- For children to develop transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and presentation and performance skills.
As composers, performers and listeners, we are all passionate about music at St. Barnabas. A significant proportion of children learn instruments and participate in extra-curricular music, as do families, staff and governors. There is some exceptional talent and we are surrounded by ‘specialists’!
Music plays a big part in our community, with numerous special events that bring the community together to celebrate enjoyment and excellence in music. These range from our weekly whole-school singing sessions and termly concerts, to our much-loved International Evening, as well as prized collaborations with local professionals and music organisations.
Our curriculum and scheme of work is ambitious – based on the Model Music Curriculum – and tailored to our school setting. Music is integral to the provision in Foundation Stage; children learn singing and general musicianship in Key Stage 1, progressing to learning the recorder, djembe and ukelele in Key Stage 2. All children in Key Stages 1 and 2 receive weekly curriculum music lessons, and many of these are delivered by a music specialist.
We have a thriving KS2 choir and a fast-growing instrumental ensemble, both of which perform regularly. We enjoy a range of out-of-school singing opportunities, including carol singing in aid of OxPAT and NAPE’s Festival of Voices at Dorchester Abbey. We offer many extra-curricular (paid for) music lessons. Currently children learn: woodwind, strings, brass, guitar/ukelele, drums, band groups and piano.
We are grateful for all the families and governors who also support music in the school in different ways. Do get in touch if you have any musical expertise to offer – we’d love to hear from you!
Follow the links below for more information about music and our music curriculum
Music Curriculum and Scheme of Work