In Music at King Ina, we use a scheme called Music Express for our lessons. It is a comprehensive scheme where the children use their voices, play instruments, listen with concentration and create a variety of sounds for different purposes. The Curriculum Maps are attached below which shows you more detail of what is taught. We follow a two year rolling programme. Year 1 and 2 cover all the units from ages 5-6 and 6-7 across the two years. Year 3 and 4 cover all the units from ages 7-8 and 8-9 across the two years. Year 5 and 6 cover all the units from ages 9-10 and 10-11 across the two years. Children in EYFS focus on the music elements in the early years curriculum where the focus is on singing well known nursery rhymes. They incorporate instrument playing into this work as well as clapping rhythms and other skills.
We also enhance our curriculum in many other ways. We have a Composer or Musician of the Moment which changes every three weeks. We listen to the music from these composers and musicians in worship when we enter and leave and we also listen to it regularly in class as background music to our work. We select a variety of singers and composers giving the children a wide range of genres to listen to and experience. They cover a range of ages, backgrounds and from a range of periods of times. We also link this to our Christian Worship and frequently have composers and musicians who write and sing Christian music. The focus for this is on current popular Christian singers such as Lauren Daigle, Jenn Johnson and Brandon Lake. In the past we have also focused on a theme such as music about the environment. A list of this years Composer or Musician of the moment can be found attached.
We have a variety of opportunities in school for music lessons. We welcome in a guitar teacher which children can pay to have lessons with. He teaches lessons on the acoustic and electric guitar. We also have lessons with Rocksteady. Children can again pay to recieve these lessons. They teach lessons on instruments to groups of children who create a band. Children can play the drums, bass guitar, keyboards or be the singer. The children involved put on three concerts a year to the school and also to their parents.
We also have a choir club at lunchtimes which is free to be involved in. The choir sing at many of our school events and also local Somerton events.
We have singing worship once a week where we enjoy learning and singing a variety of songs. We have some favourites such as 'City on a Hill' which features the lyrics 'Let your light Shine' directly linking to our School Vision, and 'My Lighthouse'. We perform many of these songs at school services such as Harvest and Easter. Every Christmas, all children are also involved in learning and singing Christmas related songs. It is an intrinsic part of the EYFS and Key Stage 1 Nativity and Key Stage 2 Carol Concert. Halfway through the year we also have a Key Stage 2 Talent Show which often includes singing alongside other acts. Year 6 leavers also put on a show which includes musical elements.