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Music

Music plays a significant part in our school day, from our collective worship in the morning, to our timetabled whole class music lessons.

We follow the Charanga Music Scheme, which ensures that pupils are taught a range of skills in singing, composing and performing. Throughout the years, pupils learn about a range of diverse music styles, such as jazz, reggae, classical music and rock, as well as a range of composers, singer songwriters and musicians.

Here are some of the units covered from Years 1 to 6.
Year 1 Round and Round
Learning the Bossa Nova style through songs and rhythmic phrases.
Year 3 Glockenspiel Stage 1
Looking at the language of music through playing the glockenspiel. 
Year 5 Make you feel my love
Learning to sing this well known ballad, along with a tuned accompaniment.

Towards the summer term, Reception pupils take part in the Charanga music units, ready for transition into Year 1.

Enrichment opportunities in Music

As a church school, music is such an important and regular part of our school day. Music is carefully chosen by the Worship Committee, to be played as children enter Collective Worship each day. The composer and the title of the piece is spoken about at the start of the week and the music links to the image selected for the weekly theme. 

We sing every day, taking great joy in celebrating the gift of song. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, we have separate key stage singing and praise assemblies. The children are taught a range of hymns and songs, raps and duets. Our church calendar helps us to plan songs for events such as Harvest, Christmas, Easter and the Leavers’ Service. 

Other Singing opportunities

Songsack The school supports Year 1 pupils to take part in a singing programme called Song Sack, a weekly music programme led by the Enfield Music Service (EMS). We use the expertise of the EMS to lead these sessions, with the class teachers supporting. The programme finishes with a wonderful concert for our parents. 

Whole class recorder lessons Children in Year 3 have weekly recorder lessons, led by the Assistant Headteacher and Head of School. The children are taught in small groups, where they learn to master a range of notes on the recorder, as well as other musical elements such as pitch, rhythm, timbre and notation. The sessions culminate in a performance to parents. Some children continue to learn to play the recorder in Year 4, having lessons from the EMS.

Partnership Festivals Every year, we take children from Y2-6, to share in a singing concert with other local schools. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together in music and song, as well as to perform a special piece in front of other children. The festivals are a highlight of the year and our children always enjoy the experience of visiting another school.

Singing Clubs is an after school club, run by teachers and open to all children in Years 2 and 3, Our KS2  choir performs at local schools and festivals, as well as to parents. Some Year 6 children also perform as a choir at Azalea Court, a residential home for the elderly, singing carols and other songs throughout the year. 

Arts Week Every two years, we plan and organise Arts Week. This is led by the Music Lead, but involves the whole school in celebrating dance, visual and performance art, music and drama. The school uses some of its music grant to bring in musicians, to perform and work with groups of children. We also run a talent competition, where all children can audition for a part in the final show.

Year 6 Production Every year, our Year 6 pupils perform in the end of year production. This is a truly ambitious project and involves all children in singing, playing instruments, drama, visual art and dance. Previous productions have included The Jungle Book and Peter Pan.

More able musicians Our more able musicians who have passed music grades or would benefit from performing to an audience before a grade, are given the opportunity to perform in assemblies and at other school events. Parents, governors and friends are invited to attend and these performances showcase the talent of our young people. 

We also regularly enter pianists (who have passed Grade 2 or above) in the Enfield Piano Competition, where we have had much success. Some of our musicians attend Saturday orchestras and bands, with many going on to achieve Grade 5 levels before they leave the school. 

Instrumental lessons We have a team of peripatetic teachers, who come in on a weekly basis. Pupils at St. Andrew’s are able to learn to play the following instruments: violin, recorder, saxophone, clarinet, tenor horn, guitar, piano and keyboard. We currently have almost 100 pupils, who are learning to play an instrument at school.

Musical links with local secondary school Over the years, the Music Lead has built partnerships with the Music Departments of two local secondary schools, where many ex-pupils attend. Many older students, who are in bands or ensembles, come to perform to our children in a special assembly.  It is usually followed by a Q&A session, where the students talk about how they became interested in music, what it is like to be part of a band and how music brings them joy. This is a really inspiring way of showing our older children how music can be a great way to socialise, to build friendships and to support good mental health and well-being. 

 

Enfield Music Service (EMS)

EMS run music lessons for children in Years 2 - 6.
Parents are able to book or renew music lessons from the music store:

https://traded.enfield.gov.uk/musicstore

The deadline to book lessons and hire musical instruments is Sunday 10th March 2024. Please note that summer term lessons will start week commencing 22nd April and pupils should receive 10 lessons during the course of the term.