MUSIC

A place in Music for everyone...

Intent

At St Michael’s CE Primary School, our vision is for our pupils to receive a high-quality music education which engages and inspires pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians. Through participation in a wide variety of musical activities, our children will display an increase in their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. They will develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to perform, compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon. 

Implementation

Taught by a music specialist, a bespoke and carefully designed scheme of work based on the National Curriculum has been implemented. Skills progression documents plan for the progress of all learners through the phases.

High quality teaching responds to the needs of all children of all musical abilities. Our music classroom specialist and peripatetic teachers use formative assessment to actively and positively identify and respond to misconceptions early. Children learn to work both independently and as part of a group, and growth mindset principles of persistence, reflection, collaboration, innovation are promoted.

The children are exposed to a wide variety of musical genres from across the globe and are provided with opportunities to understand how music is used in the wider world including careers. Music is also taught through cross-curricular opportunities; complementing and enriching our topic curriculum.  

Through the study of, playing, and singing of key pieces of music from different genres, as well as weekly singing assemblies, our children learn about the structure and organisation of music. The children are taught how to listen to and to appreciate different forms of music; developing descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. They are taught technical vocabulary such as dynamics, rhythm, instrument families, pitch, texture, timbre, tempo, and children are encouraged to analyse music using these terms.

Children at St Michael’s receive whole-class tuition in recorder (year 2) and ukulele (year 4), and use classroom percussion, glockenspiels, keyboards and music technology software. All children are taught how to read basic music notation which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or composing. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the music curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument. 

Music clubs include woodwind ensemble, brass ensemble, string group, pop choir, and an auditioned chamber choir, as well as one classroom instrument club per term (ukulele, classroom percussion, keyboard). 

Music assessment is ongoing and formative, to inform teachers with their planning, lesson activities and differentiation. The learning of, and attitudes towards music are monitored throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies such as learning walks, lesson observations and pupil interviews.

Clear lesson and unit planning focuses and guides all learning. The specialist music teacher works closely with their colleagues including the SLT to aspire to and drive improvement. An annual departmental action plan provides direction for the development of music within the school.  

Impact

Our children are happy learners during their music lessons, and they strive to achieve their potential. Children of all abilities and backgrounds achieve well in Music; they talk enthusiastically about their learning in Music and are eager to further their learning in the next stages of their education, for example Year 2 pupils choosing to start peripatetic lessons in Year 3.

The children’s musical progress is reflected in outstanding performances within the school and the wider community: at termly church services, to each other in class, at assemblies, on their instruments at exams such as ABRSM, and at community performances. These performances are always well received and this enhances positive attitudes towards music at St Michael’s.

Recently, St Michael’s CE Primary was nominated by Wandsworth Music Hub to become a Music Mark school for the 2021/22 academic year. This is in recognition of our commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum and the value that we place on music.

Peripatetic Tuition

Our highly skilled and experienced peripatetic music teachers provide violin,  brass, woodwind and guitar lessons for years 3 and above (year 2 for violin).  

Please email Mrs Minster at musicadmin@stmichaels.wandsworth.sch.uk if you would like further information about the Musical Tuition Scheme, or click on this link to read the document: 

• Music Tuition Scheme 

Currently 91 pupils in Key Stage 2 learn an instrument at school – 42%.  

There are 9 year two children having violin lessons.

The children can take up a musical instrument in Year 3 and work towards taking exams with the Associated Board of Music. Please complete a Peripatetic Music Tuition Form found on our Downloadable forms page 

Concerts and Performances

At St. Michael’s the children are encouraged to take part in different musical performances involving drama and singing. Each term there is an event that involves performing in either a Church Service, concert or external event. Please refer to the calendar for when the events take place and also to the review section of the 'Weekly Web Updates’.