At St Marks, we provide children with a high-quality and rich music education where self-expression, creativity, imagination and confidence is encouraged. The children develop a love for the subject and an appreciation of music genres in the aim that they will choose to continue engaging with music in their futures. We provide frequent opportunities for children to perform and appreciate performances in a variety of settings including regular church services and a Mid-Summer Concert for the orchestra, choir and individual performances. We also provide opportunities to enrich their experiences through seeing shows and live performances. All children can read simple musical notation by the time they leave St Mark’s and will have had an enriched experience, supporting their spiritual development. Music is at the heart of the school community, bringing joy across the school through concerts, collective worships, clubs and class performances.

We offer a range of peripatetic music lessons (piano, violin, recorder, flute, drums, guitar, ukulele, brass), as well as a choir, recorder groups and orchestra club, led by a peripatetic teacher, who perform in Church services and around the local community. We provide the opportunity for children to learn, create and perform music in a band through Rocksteady lessons and termly concerts. Whole class ukulele lessons are taught in Year 3 by another peripatetic music teacher. This enriches their experiences of music and allows them to get a feel for learning an instrument, as well as developing their listening and performing skills from KS1. Other instruments used in class are glockenspiels, African drums and a range of percussion instruments.

Music is sequential across the year groups and provides them with skills and vocabulary that build on prior knowledge. All year groups use a mix between Charanga and Kapow Primary in order to access a range of music which allows them to be creative and imaginative. Where appropriate, strong links are made with other curriculum subjects to enhance musical exposure e.g. History linked compositions, Science - Mars by Gustav Holst and RE composing music to represent the festival of colour through music. St Mark’s relish in opportunities to listen to live music through the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and workshops.

Music is a subject that staff are very passionate about, with many staff participating in experiences outside school working with young children. We recognise the importance and value that music can have on our young students.

What does Music at St Mark's look like?

We know that music promotes positivity, self-confidence and a sense of community. Therefore, we believe in making music a part of our everyday practise, whether through  singing assemblies, extra-curricular activities or music lessons. We will provide a high-quality, rich music education where self-expression, creativity, imagination and confidence is highly encouraged. 

Throughout their time here, the children will develop their knowledge and understanding of the different dimensions of music (Beat, Rhythm, Pitch, Dynamics, Structure, Timbre, Texture and Style) through composing and performing music linked to their topic, in addition to exploring music from other countries, cultures and that of great composers. The children will learn how to listen and appraise a variety of different pieces, read and record staff notation, compose, improvise and perform confidently to others.

In year 3, the children will learn how to play the ukulele through whole-class tuition. This is led by a music specialist, who will continue to develop the skills of reading and writing notation. This is all paid for by school as part of our continued music provision.

Private tuition 

There are a wealth of opportunities, through private tuition,  for children to continue to learn  instruments: Violin, Piano, Guitar, Drums, Recorder, Ukulele, Flute, Cornet and Clarinet. All of which can be joined at any time during the Year. 

Clubs

We are also blessed with being able to have an amazing choir and orchestra, led my Mrs Nia Bennett, these are both run as after school clubs (free of charge). The choir and orchestra play an integral part in all of our festivals and assemblies.

Please see below for the Music Curriculum Plan, written by Subject Lead Miss J Thornhill.

What is mastery in music?

Mastery is the pursuit of excellence – and for the musician, it is about appreciating and accepting our own strengths and weaknesses, enabling us to learn from our mistakes and draw on those around us. It is about working collaboratively for a collective goal (performance) rather than for our own self gain.

Top Tips for Parents...

Play music around the house - talk about the artist, their background and how the music makes you feel.

Download garage band on an Ipad or computer.

Sing!

If possible, encourage the learning of a musical instrument.