Music

Music

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.

                                  

 

Curriculum for Music

 

Our Curriculum is designed to:

 

• Encourage all children to have high aspirations and to achieve their full potential as musicians 

• Inspire pupils to develop a life-long love of music.  

• Provide opportunities to perform and create their own music using a variety of instruments and musical styles

• Enable pupils to experience the joy of performance and to share their talents within the school and the wider community.  

 

Implementation

 

Our music lessons focus on developing skills in singing, performing and composing music. We also listen to a wide range of musical genres, styles and traditions, which allow children to develop an understanding and appreciation of all music. 

 

All pupils have a music lesson each week.  Our music lessons take place in our well resourced music room with our specialist Music teacher, Mrs Tyler.  Singing assemblies take place weekly for both Key stages.

 

We use Charanga as an online resource in lessons for children to learn songs and play instruments, with some year groups having access to this at home also.  

Across all year groups, we follow Kodaly methodology for developing pitch awareness and rhythm knowledge.  Lessons enable children to build their skills and knowledge of music which includes developing their musical vocabulary.  

We believe that a high quality music curriculum includes the use of musical notation and this is introduced from year 1 onwards.

 

 

KS1

 

• Children in year 1 learn songs and sing as a whole class and in small groups

• Learn about rounds and songs with 2 part harmony

• We begin to explore the various elements of music; pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure. 

• Children learn to explore and control a variety of percussion instruments to create different sounds. 

• Play Boomwhackers, Djembe drums and Chime bars 

• Improvise and compose simple rhythms and melodies with instruments and voices

• Learn a wide range of music styles including: African Music, South African Pop music and Chinese Music

 

KS2

 

• Sing increasingly complex songs in unison and 2 part harmony

• Increase our knowledge and understanding of the elements of music and how elements are combined to express ideas

• Improvise and compose their own music using different styles and for a variety of purposes

• Use a variety of instruments including Percussion, Recorders, Ukuleles, Glockenspiels and Keyboards

• Learn about instruments used in an orchestra and in music from different countries

• Children use Music Technology: Garageband and Chrome Music Lab 

• Learn a wide range of music styles including: African Music, Reggae, Gospel, Samba, Blues, Jazz, WW2 & Pop

 

Music lessons at Rushey Green support our whole school values and help children to:

 

• Develop confidence and self-esteem 

• Build resilience and support wellbeing

• Learn to collaborate as part of choir or orchestra

• Be ambitious and curious

 

 

Extra Curricular activities/Enrichment

 

All children are given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument taught by visiting teachers from Lewisham Music Hub.  We encourage children learning instruments to work towards music exams and music medal assessments.

 

Lessons are available in school on the following instruments:

 

• Piano

• Guitar

• Drums

• Strings: Violin & Cello

• Woodwind: Flute & Clarinet

• Brass: Trumpet, Horn & Trombone

 

For more information about lessons, costs and applying for lessons click here (letter to download )

 

Music Clubs

 

We have both a Junior choir (year 2-3) and Senior choir (year 4-6).

They get to perform at our school events and have the opportunity

To perform at events outside of school time.  

  

Children who play an instrument can also join our school orchestra. 

 

Music News 2021/2022

 

November:  Year 6 children enjoyed a visit from Rapper, Shao Dow.  

 

December: Our choir and orchestra performed at the school Winter fair

 

May: Our choir took part in the Young Voices concert at the O2 Arena. 

 

June: KS1 took part in a body percussion and boomwhacker workshop with ‘The Beat Goes On’.