Music at St Teresa's
"We love that we are able to experience playing instruments like Ukuleles. We get to be creative and try out our ideas!" Patrick and Chidi Y5
Intent
Music is taught at St Teresa's by a specialist teacher, Mr Moses from Junior Jam.
Our pupils are provided with a rich and diverse music education that is fundamental to helping to unlock their creative potential. Our music curriculum sets out to allow children a broad range of musical experiences within primary school, giving pupils the foundation to explore their talents and passions.
Music is taught from Reception to Year 6. We do this by teaching three core subjects, Music Theory with Keyboards, Songwriting with Glockenspiels and Singing, which are delivered across three half terms throughout the year. The remaining three half terms within an academic year will be instrument focused in order to ensure pupils have the opportunity to perform on a variety of tuned and untuned instrumentation from a wide range of different cultures.
To ensure that the curriculum is progressive and differentiated from year group to year group, the three core subjects pupils study are year group specific. When pupils commence one of our instrumentation courses, unless they have prior knowledge and experience of the instrument, they will begin by learning the basics of the instrument and will progress through the levels year by year.
Implementation
Our three core courses have been developed to contain the majority of curriculum links and foundational knowledge. These courses are year group specific and have been developed in accordance with both the national curriculum for music and the Model Music Curriculum (2021)
• Singing – Our singing courses are taught to all years from EYFS to Year 6. Through singing, pupils will learn about key elements such as pitch and dynamics as well focusing on their vocal health, breathing and posture. EYFS will have a greater focus on singing in order to access musical experiences without instrumentation.
• Music Theory with Keyboards – Music Theory with Keyboards is taught across six levels from Year 1 to Year 6. Pupils will explore the fundamentals of music using the keyboards to understand elements of musicianship such as melody, harmony and pulse.
• Songwriting with Glockenspiels – Songwriting with Glockenspiels gives pupils the opportunity to explore composition across KS1 and KS2. Within these courses, pupils will also focus on musical listening. Across all levels, pupils will complete a weekly listening time where they will critically listen to a variety of musical examples appropriate for their year group as set out in the Model Music Curriculum.
Through our instrumentation courses, pupils will be given opportunities to celebrate, share and experience musical development and consolidate their learning from our core courses. Pupils will learn about the history and cultural significance of the instruments they are playing and will be able to develop their aural skills. These courses allow pupils performance opportunities within the classroom in order to develop confidence not only within music but across their academic careers.
Music Curriculum Progression of Skills
Click on the document link below to see the progression of skills for Music in our curriculum
Music Curriculum Knowledge Organisers
Click on the links below to see the knowledge organisers for each Music curriculum subject. These are a helpful resource to talk about your child's music learning at home.
Electric Drums Knowledge Organiser
African Drumming Knowledge Organiser
Instrumental Music Lessons with Herts Music Service
We are delighted that in conjunction with Hertfordshire Music Service we are able to offer our KS2 pupils piano. These lessons take place during the day and there are 11 lessons per term. And registration is now open for lessons from September 2023.
If you would like your child to have music lessons you will need to apply to ‘Hertfordshire Music Service to book lessons. All the information you need to book is available -
HMS tutors will be teaching face to face or online and every effort has been taken to ensure both tutors and pupils are kept safe in line with guidance available here.’
Spaces are limited so if you are interested in your child having lessons please book as soon as possible.
.The cost of the lessons are:-
Piano lesson 20 Minute Individual Lesson £14.70 per lesson
30 Minute Individual Lesson £22.05 per lesson
Guitar lesson 20 Minute Individual lesson £14.70 per lesson
20 Minute Shared lesson £11.73 per lesson (shared 2 pupils)
30 Minute Group lesson £7.35 per lesson (group 3-5 pupils)
Please note that, half a term’s notice in writing must be given if your child no longer wishes to receive music tuition. This is at the request of Hertfordshire County Council. All payments must be made directly with HMS. If the teacher is unavailable to give the lesson they will endeavour to make up the lesson's missed. Where a lesson is missed due to a school trip etc the teacher is not obliged to make up the lesson but will endeavour to do so if possible.
Children eligible for free school meals or other related benefits maybe entitled to a remission in music fee please see
http://www.hertsmusicservice.org.uk/remission-criteria