Music

‘The language of music is common to all generations and nations; it is understood by everybody, since it is understood with the heart.’ Gioacchino Rossini

INTENT         

What do we teach? Why do we teach it?

We believe in providing an engaging and stimulating curriculum. Children are encouraged to listen to and explore a broad range of music, based on many traditions and forms of music. The school employs a dedicated music specialist teacher who teaches weekly lessons to all classes. Children are given a range of opportunities to create, improvise, compose and perform with a focus on music-making. As well as class-based music lessons, Key Stage Two children are encouraged to take up an instrument and subsidised lessons are provided by inspirational music tutors from Hackney Music Service. Instrumental lessons include: woodwind, brass and guitar. Children also participate in performances in school and borough-wide events, featuring our instrumentalists, mixed ensemble, choirs and individual performers. In recognition of this consistent level of excellence, Sir Thomas Abney are winners of the Mayor of Hackney Award for Excellence in Music Education and the individual award for Excellence in Music.

IMPLEMENTATION

How do we teach and assess and how does this look in practice?

At Sir Thomas Abney, we believe in giving every child the widest possible range of opportunities to achieve their full potential in music. We aim to give them the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve competence and control in:

• Singing;

Each week all children from reception attend a singing assembly. Singing is also a part of each music lesson, and every child from year three can attend the school choir free of charge and within school hours.

• Using instruments in the classroom;

 Sir Thomas Abney boasts a wide range of instruments from different cultures: djembes, xylophones, congas, cabassas,  keyboards, even a full drum kit are played during weekly hands-on music lessons that emphasises learning through playing. Also as part of whole class lessons, brass, woodwind and ukulele are introduced to Key Stage One pupils so that they can get to try out and decide if they would like to learn guitar, trumpet, trombone, flute, clarinet or recorder with our  visiting instrumental tutors.

• Instrumental Music Lessons

We have visiting instrumental tutors for brass, woodwind and guitar where pupils can choose to take their playing further, opening pathways to the Sir Thomas Abney Ensemble, and on to the Hackney Music Service Orchestras and Jazz ensembles.

Nursery and Reception

We focus on musical pathways through singing, listening, circle games and movement. Instruments are introduced and explored, with an emphasis on call and response, taking turns, and adding instruments to known songs and stories.

Key Stage One 

The focus is still on singing, circle games and exploring the instruments, but with more emphasis on patterns, starting and stopping together, holding more than one rhythm at a time and quality of sound. Whole class recorder, Ukulele and brass are also introduced so that every child has the opportunity to try one of the instrument families that are taught in Key Stage Two.

Key Stage Two 

The focus shifts towards playing the classroom instruments as an ensemble and the many listening and group skills that it brings. The intention is to use practical application to learn about musical form and genres so, for example; the children are able to play different genres, like the blues, rather than just talking about them; building a samba band; playing their version of Peter and the Wolf with their own melodies for each character. They will also learn to read and write simple rhythms and melodies and use them to make music in the classroom.

The aim is to equip our children with skills and an appreciation of music that will allow them to participate in an expanded musical future, whether that is playing and performing at the highest level, broadening musical horizons, knowing what it take to get a band together, or just having fun along the way.

For more details, please also see:  Sir Thomas Abney Music Curriculum Overview; Music National Curriculum 

IMPACT

By the time our children leave our school:

At Sir Thomas Abney it is all about opening musical pathways and integrating music into the heartbeat of the school. The aim is to equip our children with skills and an appreciation of music that will allow them to participate in an expanded musical future, whether that is playing and performing at the highest level, broadening musical horizons, knowing what it take to get a band together, or just having fun along the way.

The impact of our music curriculum is also measured in the uptake of our music extra-curricular clubs and uptake of individual instrumental tuition. Regular performances at school and the school’s involvement in local musical events, including Hackney's annual music festival, ensure that children are developing as confident performers. They also provide further means to showcase the impact of the school’s high-quality music provision.