Music

What's going on in school?

Year 3:

Autumn 2: Year 3 will be preparing for their Christmas Performance and will be developing their singing skills, including singing to a backing track.

Spring 2: Year 3 will be learning how read simple notation and play the recorder. By the end of the half term the children will have composed their own short piece on the recorder. They will record these for St James Junior Radio Station.

Summer 2: As the children have developed their musical skills and understanding of how music is arranged they will now be appraising (listening and responding) to music. The music will have a medieval theme.

Year 4:

Autumn 1: Year 4 will be preparing for their Harvest Performance and will be developing their breathing techniques and understanding of pitch. They will also learn how to perform to a backing track as a group.

Spring 2/Summer 1: Year 4 will be learning how to play the handbells and read simple notation. They will develop a stronger sense rhythm and know how to count beats. They will compose their own group piece and perform this for St James Radio Station.

Summer 2: Year 4 will be developing their appraisal skills and will be able to respond to a piece of music; talking about their feelings and personal responses to a piece of music. This will link with our Topic on Tudors, with a focus on Renaissance compositions.

Year 5:

Autumn 2: Linking with the Year 5's Topic on Space they will explore Classical and Romantic compositions including Holst's, Planets. They will develop their appraisal skills and show a personal response to the music. They will also look at how music is used in performances on stage e.g. Ballets.

Spring 2: Year 5 will be preparing for their Easter Performance at Ozzy Road. In order to prepare they will explore good singing practices and consider what makes a good group performance. They will also learn how to perform to a backing track, with some children providing solo performances.

Summer 2: Yet to be arranged. (It is hoped that year 5 will be able to utilise some ICT resources to assist them in composing unique pieces of music inspired by the music they have explored during the year.

Year 6:

Spring 1 and 2: We have been fortunate enough to be able to access a scheme for Junk Percussion. The Year 6 children are joined by a Percussion Music Teacher each week. They will be developing their sense of rhythm and building their understanding of percussion. The children will be recording their own percussion composition by the end of Spring 2 for St James Radio Station.

Summer 1: Year 6 will be developing their appraisal skills through the exploration of twentieth century to present day music. They will give personal responses to the music and talk about how music has changed over time.

Summer 2: Year 6 will finish the year with their End of Year Production. They will improve their singing skills and work on harmonising as part of a large group performance. Their main songs will be recorded and aired on Saint James Radio Station.