Music at St. Monica's

At St. Monica’s we have always valued the importance of music and the arts.  We aim to provide our children with a wide variety of experiences and opportunities to develop their musical knowledge and talents.  We also believe that music promotes the teaching of key skills that help children to access the wider curriculum.  

Music and reading are related via common neural and cognitive mechanisms and research suggests a mechanism for the improvements in literacy seen with musical training....Based on what we already know about the ways that music helps shape the brain, the study also suggests that short-term music lessons may enhance lifelong listening and learning. (Kraus, 2011) 

Music Curriculum Leader Handbook  (Sefton Music Service 2020)

It has long been proven that music making in both the early and primary years has long term academic and developmental benefits. Music making increases listening and concentration skills, improves phonemic awareness, reading proficiency, has an impact on spatial temporal reasoning; mathematical thinking, physical coordination, develops self confidence and promotes teamwork and social skills.

Intent

• At St. Monica’s we believe that music should be an enjoyable and practical experience that is accessible for all.  
• We aim to inspire and promote music to children and enable them to appreciate a diverse range of traditions and cultures.   
• Music is embedded within the spiritual and religious teaching within our school.  Children enjoy singing and learning hymns throughout the year to celebrate and promote the values for living and celebrating our Catholic faith. 

Implementation

• At St. Monica’s each year group has dedicated curriculum time with a music specialist from Create Music. 
• In KS1, units of work are based around the glockenspiel.  
• In KS2, units are based around the ukulele.  
• In each unit, pupils build on knowledge weekly and then yearly, enhancing their skills. Lessons are characterised by pupils listening, discussing, critiquing, playing, performing, singing and composing.
• Where possible cross -curricular links enrich their learning both in music and other subjects.
• Children have dedicated time throughout the year to sing and perform to other years groups, parents and the wider community. 

Impact 

• The impact and measure of music teaching is that children develop a toolkit of key skills that they can use and apply in their musical ability.  
• Children enjoy and are engaged in their lessons and make progress in their music ability as they progress throughout the school.
• Music teachers will use on-going formative assessment to assess musical knowledge and understanding.
• The subject leaders will work closely with the music specialists from Create Music to ensure consistency and high expectations.  Annual observations of music lessons will take place.  
• The subject leads will interview children on a termly basis to assess children’s understanding and enjoyment of music.
• The subject leads will analyse recorded evidence on a termly basis to ensure pupil progress.  
• Termly impact reviews carried out by the subject leads will allow for any adjustments to the music curriculum to be carried out.