Music

The power and beauty of Music to help us understand and appreciate diversity and unity within our community were  powerful factors in the construction of the Music curriculum that we have created for pupils. We believe that Music appreciation helps foster dignity and enables us to show great respect not just in the creation of, but performance of music.

Spirituality by its definition will be found in many ways and forms. Below are just some typical examples of where it may be found in our Music curriculum:

o The work of creative artists from a variety of times and places.

o Beauty, truth and goodness.

o Expressing, interpreting and exploring deep feelings and profound beliefs.

o Artistic creativity.

o The effects of the arts on emotions and senses.

o The arts as means of expressing mood.

o Skill in creation and performance, and particularly in personal reflection upon their own creativity using various art forms.

o Effects on the emotions and senses.

o Personal response and preference.

Music at St Egwin’s engages and inspires pupils to develop a love for performing, creating, and listening to music. The subject increases their self-confidence, the endeavour they put into their music making and their respect for others’ creative output. Students listen to music from a wide geographical and historical context, perform in a range of groups on a range of instruments, and compose music using a range of media.

The National Curriculum for Key Stage 2 (Year 6) aims for pupils to:

• perform, listen to, review, and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles, and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced, and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, and appropriate musical notations.

The National Curriculum for Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8) aims for pupils to:

• perform, listen to, review, and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles, and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced, and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, and appropriate musical notations

The Music curriculum requires composition music for a range of settings and events, using a range of instruments. All students have opportunities to develop their own musical voice and are provided with a wide range of instruments on which to do so. Music provides a safe space to collaborate, compose, and perform within, providing them with the best opportunity to create effectively. This safe space supports students through success or failure and allows them to respect the endeavour and creative processes of others.

All students will be provided with a wide range of extra opportunities outside the taught curriculum to foster and develop their musical talent if they wish. Music is used to teach better understanding, love, and tolerance of different cultures and communities by accessing the arts they have to offer. The subject opens students’ minds to new experiences and the chance to participate in memorable, creative performances.