MUSIC

Each class has music lessons within the school timetable.

In KS1 all the children have the opportunity to learn either the glockenspiel although there are plans for our KS1 children to learn the PBuzz.

In lower KS2, from September 2024 we will be accessing instrumental lessons through Lancashire's Wider Opportunities scheme; learning a brass instrument. The children will learn the recorder in the spring and summer terms.

In upper KS2, the children will continue to learn the recorder and they will also learn to play the electronic keyboard.

Music technology is taught throughout KS2 through the use of Garage Band on our IPads. This also involves an element of composition.

We ensure that all strands of the music curriculum are taught: singing, composing/improvising, musicianship (KS1) and performing (including the reading of notation) (KS2).

We listen to music everyday. A piece of music is selected from the Model Music curriculum which is suitable for the age-range; the children will find out the time period, composer, country of origin. The music is played (for example, during early morning work) for a week, before the children start to listen to a new piece of music.

Where possible, the teaching of music is linked to the half-termly topic. For example, when our Year 5 and 6 pupils study 'The Battle of Britain' in history, the children learn to sing songs from World War Two.

We listen to a range of music guided by the model music curriculum and where possible we link this music to the topic, for example in the KS1 topic 'Beast Hunters' the children listen to and appraise 'Flight of the Bumble Bee'. If music does not link to the topic, we follow the units from 'Charanga Music' which ensures that the children are singing, performing, composing, improvising and listening. Charanga music covers music from a variety of styles, from classical to rock and organises music lessons around a particular song. We also utilise Charanga for our recorder and keyboard lessons. We use 'Sing Up' and 'BBC 10 pieces' as key resources.

At Barrowford St Thomas we pride ourselves on the singing which takes place. Singing is a part of every music lesson. As a church school, we also see singing hymns as an important factor within our worship and a means of collectively praising the word of God. The warmth and depth of feeling behind the children’s singing is certainly moving and gives everyone a feeling of togetherness and enjoyment. 

At our school we strongly believe that all children should be given as many opportunities as possible to develop their musical talents. Currently we are lucky to have three music specialists who offer extra musical provision in violin, guitar and piano. This may be extended to individual brass lessons following the Wider Opportunities lessons during the autumn term in Lower KS2. Two or three times a year, all the children who learn an instrument have the opportunity to perform their instrument in front of the whole school and parents.

We offer a choir, which from September 2024 will be lead by our piano teacher, Mrs Tomlinson. In the past our singing group choir, created for all children from Y3 to Y6, has performed in school, for parents, Pendle Hospital, in Nelson Market, Barrowford Booths and Barrowford Library and was lead by our former headteacher, Mrs Duckworth (former music lead). 

Where possible, we give all our children to listen to and engage with live music. For example, the children go to a musical performance/show every year at the Bolton Octagon theatre. Live musicians, such as the folk musicians who accompany traditional dancing are invited into school. Miss Marshall (EYFS teacher) is also a musician; she plays the piano in worship and can also play the saxophone. It is also our aim that every child will have watched a live orchestra playing in an external venue before they leave our school. In 2024, our KS1 class visited Bridgewater Hall in Manchester to watch the Halle Orchestra. We also organise music workshops such as a Samba drumming workshop and Chinese music workshop to extend our children's experience of music.

Aims

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

The Music Subject Leader is Mrs Lesley Lahey

Listening to Live Music

The folk musician, Richard Moss

Richard Moss a local folk musician.  Richard performed some traditional songs from the Mills, helped us to unpick the meanings behind some of the lyrics and encouraged us to join in with a good old sing song!  Please take a look at the photos and especially the video below. More videos on Class 4's class page.

Flautist: Julie Weaver

We were grateful to Julie who visited school to perform on her flute for the children in Class 3, as part of their topic based on the story 'The Pied Piper'. She taught the children about the flute and how it works. 

Live Music in school performed by our children

Our Music Concert for parents (performing on the piano, guitar and violin)

Two songs performed by our singing group

Playing musical instruments in school

Fantastic Keyboards!

Learning to play the recorder in Year 3 and 4

Music Policy

Progression of knowledge and skills in music

Music Planning

MEDIUM TERM PLANS

Years 1 and 2 Cycle B 2022 - 23

Years 1 and 2 Cycle A 2021 - 22

Years 3 and 4 Cycle B 2022 - 23

Years 3 and 4 Cycle A 2021 - 22

Years 5 and 6 Cycle B 2022 - 23

Years 5 and 6 Cycle A 2021 - 22