Music

“With music, one’s whole future life is brightened. This is such a treasure in life that it helps us over many troubles and difficulties. Music is nourishment, a comforting elixir. Music multiplies all that is beautiful and of value in life.”  – Zoltan Kodaly

Intent

At Ashton Vale we value the power of music for bringing our school community together and broadening our knowledge of the world all around us.  Music includes everybody and through music we celebrate the creativity and diversity of our school, our local community and the wider world. 

We endeavour to inspire our children to see themselves as musicians by providing opportunities to make music at whole school, class and individual level.  Our wide and balanced curriculum expands the musical horizons of every child.  We provide opportunities for whole school singing and performance allowing children to share their musical skills.

We recognise the importance of music on well-being: how it impacts self-esteem and confidence.  Singing and performing together brings children together, inspires them to be the best they can be and be proud of what they can achieve. This collaboration of voices develops a strong sense of teamwork and responsibility, which carries over into all aspects of our school life.

Music lessons are lively, interactive and inclusive, encouraging a passion for music through listening, composing and performing using both voices and instruments. Music is a strength of our school with high quality whole school singing assemblies weekly and singing together daily.    We also encourage children to take up an instrument in addition to their class lessons supported by tutors from Bristol Plays Music. 

Implementation

Our music scheme of work follows the Bristol Music Curriculum. Children are taught musical notation and focus is placed on secure understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music through practical music making. This provides a broad balance of performance, listening and composition opportunities, creating an enriching curriculum that celebrates music from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.

Where possible, professional musicians from Bristol Plays Music are invited to teach alongside our staff.  Further aspirational opportunities for the children are provided as children frequently attend concert venues in the city to perform and listen to live music.

Whole school events embrace music and are a highlight of our school calendar.  Our Christmas Performances showcase our singing ability and our annual Carol singing brings together the whole community including Parents and Governors.  Children have the opportunity to sing or perform using an instrument at our Annual Music Concert – individually, in groups and as a whole class.

We use music to celebrate and share collective emotion.  Music is an important part of collective worship and brings together the school in song and reflection.  Close partnership with Bristol Plays Music, Handfuls of Harmony and other arts groups enriches our provision and helps provide a stimulating musical experience in the classroom and rich extra-curricular provision.

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Impact

Throughout their progression through Ashton Vale children have access to a varied music curriculum which allows them to see themselves as ‘musicians’.  They are supported to find areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve on. Music is a thread which is intertwined through life experiences, emotions and knowledge of the wider world.  We will provide opportunity for children to develop their sense of achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection.  Children will develop an understanding of differing musical cultures, including their own personal history. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer. They will be able to understand how music has developed over time.  They will dissect music and comprehend its parts. They will sing and feel a pulse.  They will compose and improvise their own music to express their emotions or reflect their understanding of the world.  As growing ‘musicians’ our children will be inspired to find out more about what they are interested in and how they can further develop their musical knowledge in outside school contexts.

Choir

The KS2 choir rehearse together weekly.  They have many opportunities to perform both within the school community, the local area and within Bristol. 

Twice a year we collaborate with local schools to form a joint Handfuls of Harmony Choir.  We are supported by expert tutors to learn and perform a variety of songs from different cultures.

For many years we have been invited by the Children’s University to perform at their Summer Graduation Ceremony.  This has given children the opportunity to perform in front of large audiences at Bristol Cathedral and Bristol Hippodrome.

At Christmas we have performed at Ashton Vale Community Centre, at the Christmas lunch for the elderly residents of Ashton Vale.  We have also sung at Asda, in Bedminster, where we have raised money for charity and the school.

The choir at Ashton Vale have been very lucky to take part in a joint choir with other children and adults from across the four Trust schools !  Singing leaders from Handfuls of Harmony came in and worked with the children on several occasions.

We are excited to be following the award winning Get on Board – Music Curriculum for Bristol. The Music Curriculum for Bristol has been developed by Bristol Plays Music in consultation with teachers and tailored to Bristol schools. It contains a complete resource that spans Reception to Year 6. The first phase of lesson plans begin with themes of water and air and include topics such as the ss Great Britain and sea shanties, balloons, kites and aeroplanes before moving on to the theme of rhythm for phase two. In phase three pitch has been introduced with a focus on songs and part singing, together with chronology where plans and resources support teaching an overview of the history of music

The lessons have been split into three levels: Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 (years 3-4) and Key Stage 2 (years 5-6).  ? KS1 complete four units over the course of the year Unit 1: Air                             Unit 2: Water Unit 3: Animal Rhythms     Unit 4: Handa's Surprise Year 3 Unit 1: Air                             Unit 2: Water Unit 3: Junk Percussion     Unit 4: Indian Music Year 6 Unit 1: Air                             Unit 2: Water Unit 3: Trains                        Unit 4: Samba

For more information on Bristol Plays Music visit the website ?https://www.bristolplaysmusic.org