Music

Our Music Leads are Ms Rutkowski and Miss McDonnell

Music curriculum intent

Building the Kingdom Statement

The universal language of Music embodies and gives expression to one of the highest

forms of creativity and communication. The transformational power of music offers

all learners a channel to discover their God-given talents. Music endeavours to enable pupils to give expression to the heights and the depths of their emotions, hopes and longings and may transcend the limitations found in other forms of communication.

Within the Catholic life of the school we are living our values and virtues by encouraging children to explore their own feelings and emotions, as well as those of others, through the use of listened to music. Through learning to sing and play instruments children are using the value of attentiveness, and praising God through our sung worship.

‘A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.’ Department of Education, National Curriculum.  

At St. Patrick’s, our aim is to inspire children to develop a love of a variety of music. Our music curriculum enables each child to reach their full potential. We encourage children to enjoy music, both in respect to its appreciation and its creation. Opportunities are given for children to sing, compose and perform in front of an audience both within and outside of school. 

Our curriculum is centred around ‘Charanga’, an online, music-based scheme, in which the children learn to sing and play instruments. They also have an opportunity to develop an understanding of pulse, rhythm and notation. 

We offer music in all classes –taught by specialist music teacher as well as continuous music lessons from their own teacher, on a regular basis. Children develop musical knowledge and skills, including listening to and discussing music, composing, performing and learning about the history of Music. They are taught musical elements: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure.

The school receives high-quality sessions from outside company called Rocksteady and perform within school once a term.

We expose children to hearing a wide variety of genres of music in assemblies and lessons. Key facts and information about pieces of music and composers are shared at the beginning of assemblies. 

As well as following the ‘Charanga’ music scheme, we have a cross-curricular approach to learning via the ‘Cornerstones’ curriculum which ensures that children are learning key skills within music through a range of thematic experiences.

Children are learning to work both independently and as part of a group, ensuring skills of resilience and teamwork are promoted in this subject. Children are enthused and engaged in the wide variety of music activities.  

Opportunities to perform outside of school, within our local environment ensure our children understand its significance and place within the wider world and that these excite and inspire children’s thirst for knowledge and participation in this subject.  Examples include:

*Young Voices at Birmingham, NEC.

*Residential Homes

* Woseley Factory

*Christmas Fayres

* Warwick Arts Centre and The Royal Albert Hall (Armonico Choir).

Children enjoy feeling part of something bigger than themselves, contributing to emotional wellbeing and/or spiritual awareness. Children participate in weekly hymn practice and have the opportunity to express themselves whilst singing during Mass. Children developconfidence in their performances and are able to demonstrate high standards of performance. 

Children enjoy and can talk about music from a range of times and cultures. As children progress through the school, they develop abilities to identify different musical instruments within pieces. They can express likes, dislikes and preferences about pieces of music. They can feel that different types of music are accessible to them now and in the future (cultural capital).