Music at St. John's

The broad aims of the Music Department throughout the school is that all boys should be given the opportunity to enjoy and take an active part in real music making both in the classroom and as part of the extensive enrichment music curriculum we have at St John’s. All boys should have their standards in listening, appreciation and performing improve and their tastes widened to new horizons so as to elicit a creative desire to make music, and understand that desire in others. Boys are also encouraged through music to become independent learners and performers.

The classroom curriculum focuses on the National Curriculum elements of performing, composing, listening and appraising, and all these elements are combined as far as possible in each scheme of work. At specific times of the year there may be more of an emphasis on one particular aspect in order to prepare for a public performance. The following key skills and areas are emphasised in our curriculum:

• How to read traditional and graphic notation.
• How to play the recorder, and be given experience on playing percussion, basic guitar and keyboard.
• How to compose music within given frameworks of structure, mood or intention.
• How to listen with improved concentration.
• How to use ICT in music making, recording and performing.
• How to improve performance.
• How to use appropriate musical vocabulary accurately.
• An introductory understanding of World music.
• The basics of the development of Western traditional music and associated instruments.
• Developing an improved musical ear.

Mrs A. Selwood
Head of Music

Download:
Yr5 and Yr6 Music curriculum information
Yr7 and Yr8 Music curriculum information