Music

Intent – Music curriculum

At Bryn, St. Peter’s, we believe that music is a universal language that encourages one of the highest forms of creativity.  We aim to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as a musician to increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

We aim to ensure that all children:

• will perform, listen to, review and evaluate music (considering pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure),
• are taught to sing, create and compose music on their own and with others (considering pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure),
• have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument (using appropriate musical notations),
• use technology appropriately,
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated,
• have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence.

Children will 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 are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts. 

Wider Opportunities

Year 5 pupils access Wider Opportunities, which is delivered by staff from the Wigan Music Service and is an opportunity for the children to learn how to play an instrument. As a school, we have chosen for the children to learn an instrument from the Woodwind family. As part of the programme, the children have weekly music lessons running throughout Autumn, Spring and Summer terms with a performance to their school peers and parents at the end of each term.

Musical opportunities

There is an ever developing enrichment programme which provides opportunities to not only develop musical ability but also to develop the children’s confidence, health and wellbeing. These opportunities are provided by teaching staff, peripatetic teachers and the Wigan Music Service.  Outside musicians are invited to perform to the children to give them the  experience of live music. Apart from opportunities to record their work and perform for other classes across the school, other opportunities include:

• Class assemblies which often have a range of music such as singing to accompany their performance.
• Let’s Sing and Young Voices are a chance for children to see Music in action and get involved in an arena setting. The children love this experience and really put their all into learning the songs and actions.
• School Productions – Christmas (whole school) and Summer (KS2)
• Theatre Visits – This year, Reception class have been to see ‘The Stick Man’ at the Lowry and Year 2 have been to watch the ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ pantomime at St Helen’s Theatre Royal.

Peripatetic Music Lessons

Alongside the weekly lessons taught at Bryn, St. Peter’s, the children in years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 also have access to individual and/or group peripatetic music lessons. Parents are asked to pay for the lessons termly and in doing so are committing themselves to these payments. These lessons include Brass, Keyboard, Guitar, Drumming and singing lessons. Within these lessons, the children gain the opportunity to perform annually in front of their peers and parents.  They also have the opportunity to take external exams in some cases.

Learning to play an instrument

Instrumental and vocal lessons

Interested?  Find out more:

https://www.wigan.gov.uk/Resident/Education/Wigan-Music-Service/Instrumental-and-vocal-lessons.aspx