More Park
Catholic Primary School
Music
Welcome to our school music page!
My aim for this page is that it will become a blog of our musical adventures across the year. Below, you will find some key information about our Music curriculum and music groups that are held weekly, alongside the blog.
Stephanie Boden - Music Lead
Intent
At More Park we aim to introduce children to the universal language of music. Children will be exposed to a range of musical talent for critical engagement and to inspire their love of music. Music lessons are skills based, focusing on pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tempo and structure. They are also given regular opportunities to compose, perform and critique, encouraging them to try their best and become talented musicians. Using gospel values, children will develop a cultural and historical understanding of Music to develop a rounded understanding of the significance of music across the world.
Implementation
In class, we follow the Charanga music scheme which promotes skills based mastery of musical concepts. Music is learnt weekly, with years 4 and 5 receiving extra ukelele tuition from a peripatetic tutor on a rotating two weekly basis.
"Musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear. The strands of musical learning, presented within the lesson plans and the on-screen resources, are part of the learning spiral. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts. Repeating a musical skill doesn’t necessarily mean their progress is slowing down or their development is moving backwards! It's just shifting within the spiral. Mastery means both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new." (Charanga)
Impact
Children leave More Park with a secure foundation of musical skills. They have been introduced to a variety of musical genres and have been given the opportunity to learn at least one instrument (Ukelele). Children are able to compose and improvise using the inter-related dimensions of music, having also built a musical vocabulary to discuss and critique both their work and the work of others.
Progression of Knowledge and Skills
Young Voices at the O2 arena
Music Blog
Young Voices 2023
On Tuesday 24th January, Year 6 Eagle class made their way to the 02 Arena in London to perform in the annual Young Voices concert. We spent the afternoon rehearsing with the other schools attending, before performing in the evening show. We even performed with Heather Small singing her famous song 'Proud!'
Music Mark Status
It is a really exciting day at More Park today, as we have just achieved Music Mark status, and awarded this fantastic certificate. Well done to everybody for their hard work.
Choir Performance from Music Evening 2022
This song was performed as a reflection for those in Ukraine and a musical prayer for peace. What a beautiful performance choir.
Music Evening 2022
On Thursday 19th May we held our annual Music Evening. It was a fantastic show, once again put together by the fabulous Mrs Dowd. The children put on two performances, one in the afternoon for their peers and another in the evening for friends and family. The children performed brilliantly, some of whom have only been learning for a few months! The choir sang as fantastically as ever and it was lovely to hear the soloists introducing their own pieces so confidently and articulately. For now, here are some photos of the event, and I will be uploading some videos shortly!
KS1 Amazing Singing in Assembly
Check out this amazing singing in our morning assembly time by KS1! Our Year 1 teacher Miss Rose is learning this song with her class for their upcoming assembly and gave all of KS1 the opportunity to practice it too. Amazing singing KS1!
Instrumental Lessons 21/22
It has reached that time of year again where we begin looking ahead to the next academic year.
We are very lucky at More Park to have amazing instrumental tutors visiting our school. Mrs Alexander, our violin tutor and Mr Milford, our woodwind tutor, who both visit school on a weekly basis.
If your child would like to learn a different instrument, we can arrange a tutor through Kent Music for a September start with all lessons taking place in school.
As you know, at More Park we really value our instrumentalists, and they are given many opportunities to showcase their talents. Most children begin learning an instrument from KS2 (year 3 upwards), but if you have a child really eager to learn who will be year 2 as of September 2021 please also get in touch with me, as we consider younger students on a child-by-child basis. Kent Music define music learning like this:
Learning with Kent Music
There is no minimum or maximum age when it comes to learning music! Introducing music to children at an early age can improve their learning ability and memory as well as skills such as sharing, creativity and concentration. We have students aged 5 and upwards – the age at which you can start is generally dependent on three factors:
- Academic ability – in order to succeed with instrumental or vocal tuition, you need to be able to count confidently and be learning or able to read.
- Physical dexterity – playing any instrument is about making controlled and purposeful physical movements with hands and fingers, and, with wind instruments, coordinating this with breathing.
- Emotional maturity – your lesson will last for at least 20 minutes, during which you will have to work hard, stay focused, and have good behaviour. You will also need to practice for at least 15 minutes every day on tasks your teacher sets.
If you have a child who would like to learn an instrument, please get in touch with me and I can give you more details
Many thanks, and I look forward to enrolling our next generation of musicians!
Stephanie Boden
stephanie.boden@more-park-westmalling.kcsp.org.uk
This summer, Kent Music are once again holding their annual music summer school! There are a number of courses that may interest children in KS2. All courses are residential at Benenden School.
Music Explorers Course (17th-18th July) - This course is aimed at beginners to grade 2 instrumentalists who are taking their first steps into music making! (ages 8+)
Ukelele Course (24th-25th July) - aimed at beginners to grade 2 (8+)
Summer Singing Course (31st July-2nd August) - all levels accepted (8+)
Places do get booked up very quickly. Please click the link below for more details, including course fees, where you can book courses directly 🙂
Please note that means tested financial assistance is also available.
https://www.kent-music.com/kent-music-summer-school/
If your child is planning to attend any of these courses, please do let me know as I love seeing our budding musicians' achievements!
Mrs Boden
Celebrating one of our musical superstars!
During one of my morning home learning zooms with Ladybird class, Hudson was practicing his guitar in the background. Hudson is currently in Year 2 and has recently started learning guitar. Wow you are doing so well! Hudson, we are so proud of you and I can't wait to see your musicality grow and shine as you move through the school.
Hudson playing guitar.mov
Lockdown Music Learning at Home
Unfortunately, this year has not started the way that we had planned. Children are continuing to learn at home, but this does not mean that your music learning is halted! All children have been given unique logins to access our Charanga music scheme from home. Music learning will be set as normal on your additional class page, so you can have lots of fun learning from the comfort of home :)
Mrs Boden
Black History Month
The month of October marks 'Black History Month' in the UK. Music and History have always been closely linked, with historical events and social change influencing the music being produced. Throughout the 20th century, black musicians advocated for equal rights through the music that they produced. Listen to artists such as Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Prince, Billie Holiday, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, to name just a few, to experience how they are using music to fight for equality. Below, watch Nina Simone perform 'I wish I knew how it would feel to be free'.
Online Concerts from the Albert Hall
With concert venues across the country still closed, we really don't want you missing out on all of the cultural experiences that you love. Click on the link below and will find lots of performances to stream from the Albert Hall, straight into your living room. Enjoy everybody!
https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/series/royal-albert-home
More Park Music Evening
At the moment, many concerts around the world have had to be cancelled or postponed. Luckily, we have our fantastic Mrs Dowd! She arranged for our annual Music Evening to go ahead from the comfort our our own homes.
Mrs Dowd has put all the performances together with choir performances to make a School YouTube music evening for everyone to enjoy at home.
More Park Music Evening
Thank you for all of your wonderful music videos that you have submitted to Mrs Dowd. She has compiled them all together to make a beautiful video which has now been emailed out to the whole school. It really is a tear jerker and we hope you enjoy it!
Well done to all of the fabulous performers, we are so proud of you!
Mrs Boden
Classical Spectacular Update
Unfortunately, due to the current climate, our trip to see 'Classical Spectacular' at the Royal Albert Hall has had to be postponed. At the moment, we are still waiting to hear further details regarding refunds or rescheduling so watch this space!
Trip to the Royal Albert Hall
I have organised for our budding musicians to go to the Albert hall in London to see 'Classical Spectacular' schools matinee performance. This is currently only being offered to children in KS2 who are learning a musical instrument or having vocal tuition. Children who are interested in this trip, have already come to me to express their interest and letters have been sent out to those families only. I have 20 spaces being offered on a first come, first served basis. It will be a great opportunity to see world class musicianship from the London Philharmonic Orchestra to further inspire our musicians. I will update this page further with photos and reviews, after our adventure!
Artist of the Month - The Beatles
From this month we are introducing an 'Artist of the Month' in school assemblies. Amber and Isla, our Music Ambassadors have decided that this month they would like us to listen to 'The Beatles'. They did a fantastic job of introducing the band to the whole school on Monday and we listened to 'Here Comes the Sun' as a first introduction to their music. Throughout the month of February we will listen to a number of their songs to experience the wide variety of styles that they composed and performed in. Well done Amber and Isla!
Taken from www.bbc.co.uk