Intention

At Star we acknowledge the power of music for emotional well being, freedom of expression and a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. (Article 29) The music curriculum at Star has been designed and delivered by a music specialist to inspire pupils and enable sustained progression across year groups. All musical learning is underpinned by the inter-related dimensions of music. 

Children are engaged in music, confident to perform and proud of their achievements. Pupils learn to play, sing, listen, compose, perform and appraise their own and others creative work. They appreciate the best in the musical canon, reflecting the cultural diversity of our school. 

Our low floor, high ceiling approach encourages pupils to sing in tune, sing and play in time and compose music of their own, to allow seamless transition to secondary music. Star pupils inspire each other to become the best musicians they can be.

Implementation

Music is a high profile subject which is delivered weekly in the music room utilising a well designed and personalised curriculum.  Music is inter-woven throughout our curriculum and celebrated by performances within our community.

• 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
• Our youngest learners perform action songs and nursery rhymes, developing their use of pitch and rhythm. 
• KS1 learn basic graphic score and link songs that they know to rhythm grids using unpitched and pitched percussion, moving into staff notation by the end of year 2 on the recorder. 
• As KS2 pupils progress through their music curriculum they continue learning staff notation on the recorder, refine their percussion work before moving to community performances with partner schools: Festival of Voices at the Hackney Empire. 
• Year 6 begin their transition to secondary music work including the Blues, notation and music technology on iPad.
• Weekly singing assemblies support cross curricular songs linking to our topic based curriculum.

Impact

Star pupils are bold, talented and aspirational musicians. Pupils are able to explore and access the curriculum progress as far as their mindset can take them. Our whole school focus on growth mindset and use of FLIP strategies alongside specialist teaching encourages pupils at Star to progress beyond many other Newham pupils. Our musicians access instrumental lessons and clubs that stretch that learning even further and bring that knowledge and experience back into the classroom.

Enrichment

Children at Star Primary are given many enrichment opportunities as part of the wider music curriculum. We run open access clubs such as KS1 choir, KS2 choir and Band Club. There are also gifted and talented clubs such as Glee Choir, Orchestra and Samba Band. We also have a lot of really good community links for performance with the local council, Cody Dock Gasworks Association and now Lister and Eastlea Secondary Schools via the Newham Music Grant. We have performed in famous venues such as the Guildhall in Central London and Horseguards Parade alongside the Coldstream Guards; giving our children the opportunity to perform for a much wider audience. We are working collaboratively with other schools to perform at events such as The Festival of Voices and Newhams Festival of Youth.