Music
VISION
“Music is a Universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. 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. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.”
(National Curriculum 2014)
Music is an important part of school life at Ryders Hayes and we are proud of our music curriculum and the opportunities given to all children to engage in a wide range of high quality musical experiences.
PRINCIPLE
At Ryders Hayes we believe that music plays a valuable role in a child’s education. We aim to:
- EXPLORE: Create awe and wonder by exploring music through singing, composing, improvising, playing and listening.
- PLAY: To allow children to develop creativity by providing access to a range of instruments from different cultures and traditions.
- DEVELOP: To allow all children to develop their skills and to share their ideas and findings.
- LINK: Inspire and support all children to find out more and pursue a musical pathway if they so wish.
AWE
At Ryders Hayes we believe that music plays a valuable role in a child’s education. We aim to:
- Provide all children with a music education that is stimulating, enriching and inspiring through curricular and extra-curricular learning.
- Promote positive attitudes towards other cultures and musical styles from a variety of time periods.
- To encourage confidence in all children through their involvement in music, and help them to develop their ability to communicate, co-operate and respect their peers through a variety of musical activities.
- Expose pupils to high quality music making at every possible opportunity. Each week all pupils take part in a whole school singing assembly where we have a professional pianist who plays while pupils enter the hall and accompanies the singing. We have regular visits from musicians including the ‘Live Music’ team from Forest Arts, the Aldridge Ukulele Band and most recently from Robbie Smith, 1st Trumpet from the Hong Kong Philharmonic who inspired pupils with his skill and virtuosity.
At Ryders Hayes all pupils from Reception to Year 6 have a weekly music lesson. Our bespoke curriculum is aligned to the New National Plan for Music Education, June 2022, with plans for partnerships with Walsall Music Education Hub and Services, the music and creative sector.
This bespoke music curriculum offers an opportunity for all children to progress through and beyond the National Curriculum objectives, built firmly upon the research and pedagogy of the Kodàly method. Through the use of the 3P model (Prepare, Present, Practice), all children fully experience music before deepening their understanding and skill-set to achieve mastery, thus empowering children with the cultural capital they need and the social mobility we strive to mobilise as a school.
This inclusive model allows all children to access all modules, but challenges the more able through purposeful planning, questioning and further opportunities. This music curriculum stretches beyond the music room, making links between musical learning and learning in the wider curriculum, and is consolidated through singing assemblies, extra-curricular opportunities, trips and visits, and class activities led by the class teacher.
The Music Department is very well resourced and instruments available for use in lessons include recorders, glockenspiels, ukuleles and the newly launched pBuzz as well as a large selection of percussion and world music instruments.
As part of the Music Curriculum pupils are able to access the nationally recognised qualifications of Arts Award ‘Discover’ and ‘Explore’.
In Year 5 all pupils have the opportunity to learn an orchestral instrument (trombone, trumpet or clarinet) free of charge as part of their whole class music lesson.
Download Music Guidance:
