The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music

• Be taught to sing, create and compose music

• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated.

At Pilling St John’s, the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions and musical genres.  We are committed to developing a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life.  We aim to help children in understanding the value and importance of music in the wider community, and to ensure that they are able to use their musical skills, knowledge and experiences to involve themselves in music in a variety of different contexts.

Our music curriculum ensures that students listen, sing, play, perform and evaluate.  This is embedded in classroom activities as well as our weekly ‘Prayer and Praise’ assemblies, various concerts, productions and performance opportunities, and the learning of instruments. The elements of music are taught in our classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed.  In the classroom students learn how to play different instruments as they progress through the school, gaining knowledge of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation.  They also learn how to compose by focusing on different dimensions of music.  This feeds their understanding when listening to, playing, or analysing music.  Performing and composing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the pupils’ understanding of musical elements, without the added complexity of playing an instrument.

Whilst at Pilling St John’s, children have access to a varied musical programme, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas that they might like to improve upon.  They are able to access fundamental abilities such as achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection.  Children have the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas, acknowledging and respecting that these may vary and that this is positive   Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world.  Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, performer or creator.  They can dissect music and comprehend its parts, they can sing and feel a pulse, and they have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.