GSO Test

Music

At Immanuel and St Andrew we make music an enjoyable learning experience. We encourage all children to participate in a variety of musical activities through which we aim to build up their love of music, self-confidence and sense of achievement.

Our music curriculum intends to inspire creativity, self-expression and encourages our children on their musical journeys, as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others. We hope to foster a life-long love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music. By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers and performers and as composers, all will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians. 

Our objective at Immanuel and St Andrew is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life.

“I really like the South African Afro Pop music we’ve been listening to. I liked listening to the gospel and listening to ‘You Can Call Me Al’”. Gabriel, Year 2

 

How we teach Music

At Immanuel and St Andrew, music touches the heart of our community. Our music curriculum helps to give our children a sense of wonder and a love for music that will continue to be a part of their lives as they move forward on their educational journey.

The children are taught through a range of approaches:

  • specialist music lessons led by the school’s lead music teacher
  • teaching of music skills through an award-winning Charanga Music Scheme
  • instrumental tuition in recorder, strings and steel pans led by Lambeth Music Service specialist teachers
  • peripatetic ukulele lessons
  • after-school clubs

“I like the teacher because he helps me learn the notes. He makes it fun because he teaches me to play certain notes including the melody and the harmony. He also teaches us about where the music comes from.” Elizabeth, Year 5 (steel pans)

Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to:

  • sing in tune and with other people, play tuned and untuned musical instruments with increasing control, fluency and expression
  • listen critically to a wide range of music from different periods, genres, styles and traditions
  • understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated through the interrelated dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and musical notation
  • begin to improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the interrelated dimensions of music.

Click here for our Music Overview

Events during the year

Throughout the school year the following events are celebrated annually:

  • International Week
  • Black History Week
  • Remembrance 
  • Christmas Concert
  • Community Carol Singing
  • Nativity – Reception and Year 2
  • Easter Production – Year 4
  • Summer Production – Year 6

“I’ve been listening to hip hop in my music lessons. In hip hop it can be loud or quiet and it has rapping and singing in it. I learnt to play the note C on the glockenspiel. It makes me feel happy, makes me feel calmer and it makes me feel funky.” Aniyah, Year 1

Music Clubs 

Autumn Term After-School Activities:

  • Nursery and Reception: Music and Movement
  • Key Stage One: Choir
  • Key Stage Two: Guitar

“I like music because it’s calming. I love singing because it inspires me to write songs and be an artist myself. I really like guitars and rock songs.” Millie, Year 4

 

How to help your child

Bring the Noise - musical ideas to try with your children at home:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/explore-bring-the-noise/zrx8gwx

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/half-term-music-activities/zmmpxyc/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/bring-the-noise/make-a-jam/zfcd8xs

Sing up at Home – helping kids find their voices:

https://www.singup.org/singupathome

NYCOS – songs and games for pupils at home:

https://www.nycos.co.uk/learn/video-resources/

Friday Afternoons – Singing project:

https://www.singup.org/singupathome

Out of the Ark – Sing and Sign and Makaton videos:

https://www.outoftheark.co.uk/video/signing/

https://www.outoftheark.co.uk/resources/makaton-signing-videos/

BBC Ten Pieces – Classical Music Introduction for Key Stage 2

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/ten-pieces

Chethams -  a selection of child-friendly musical activities that can be enjoyed independently or together as a family:

https://outreach.chethams.com/resources/family-friendly/

Royal College of Music Sparks – Digital resources for singing, listening, exploring and composing music:

https://www.rcm.ac.uk/sparks/digitalresources/