Intent

At St Peter’s Catholic Primary School our intent for music is for our children:-

• to enjoy and appreciate music in its many forms
• to know about some important composers, listening to and enjoying some of their music
• to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding in performing, composing, listening and appraising
• to develop their understanding of how music can take a variety of forms and that music can reflect other times and places
• to develop their independence, self-esteem, motivation and their ability to work with others
• to have opportunities to take part in musical activities by playing and singing  in a group 

Implementation

Music is taught by our class teachers and a specialist music teacher delivers ukulele lessons in Year Four (these will commence in Term Three).  Every term, each class receives the equivalent of 45 minutes of music a week, though this may be taught in blocks.

EYFS

In Early Years there is an emphasis on "finding the singing voice".  The children learn a wide variety of songs and singing games which develop a sense of beat, aural memory, co-ordination and enjoyment.  They also explore simple percussion instruments and begin simple composition and graphic notation.

Key Stage 1

Pupils are taught to:

• use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
• play tuned and untuned instruments musically
• listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high quality live and recorded music
• experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter related dimensions of music

Key Stage 2

Pupils are taught to:

• play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
• improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter related dimensions of music
• listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
• use and understand staff and other musical notations
• appreciate and understand a wide range of high quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
• develop an understanding of the history of music

Extra Curricular Music

All children take part in a weekly singing assembly, learning new songs and hymns and often singing in parts. 

We also offer a wide range of musical opportunities outside lessons.  We regularly take part in local music festivals, choir competitions and performances at school and in the wider community.  

The following school music clubs are available for children to participate in free of charge:

• School choir
• School band
• Beginners' Recorders
• Continuers' Recorders
• Clarinet

Paid for lessons are available during the school day:

• Make Time For Music - keyboard, cornet/trumpet, guitar
• Music for Schools Foundation - brass and woodwind instruments
• Miss Kate Coles - violin

Bursaries are available from Kent Music for eligible children.  

Impact

The children are St Peter's are confident and proficient singers.  They have experience of a wide range of high quality classical and contemporary music.  They have regular use of a large variety of instruments allowing them to compose and perform quality pieces of music.  The children learn to use music apps and digital software to compose and edit their own music tracks.

At St Peter's we evidence music lessons through the use of Big Books using photographs and videos via QR Codes.  The Music Subject Lead is responsible supporting teachers to in reporting to parents through the annual school report.  In addition, the Year 6 pupils complete the Swale Music Passport which is sent to their secondary school.