MUSIC DEVELOPMENT
Three years ago, it was decided to offer every child in Year 3 the opportunity to learn descant recorder, the aim being to develop music skills and confidence and thereby encourage more children to take up either flute or clarinet in Year 4. The Year 3 class is split into two groups and each group has a half-hour lesson each week, leading towards a now annual performance to parents and peers and the opportunity to learn flute or clarinet in Year 4.
This initiative has been successful in its aims and more children now take instrumental lessons from Year 4 upwards.
In order to build on this, the school has decided to include other music activities in addition to Year 3 recorder. Starting in September 2006, creative music making sessions were offered to children from Reception to Year 3, such as song writing, junk percussion, story telling with puppets and music etc. The plan is to work with up to 20 children for an hour each week, on a half-termly basis. The group will be mixed age from Reception to Year 4 and the programme will be made available to all children from these year groups across the course of a year. In addition, from September 2006 woodwind lessons were offered to children from Year 4 upwards with taster sessions happening in July.
Creative Music Project
The first project was a singing and dancing project with Year 4 children. Pupils learnt a range of dances and games accompanied by songs and also created their own songs and dances in whole class and small groups. This developed a range of skills including – pitch and rhythm awareness, memorising patterns of music and movement, working co-operatively in a group, performance, song writing and creating dances.
Feedback from the children was that they had really enjoyed learning the songs and dances and their comments included:
"I got to know children I don’t usually spend time with by working in a group with them".
"I felt confident to give my ideas in a group – usually I feel too nervous to speak up".
The second project (commenced October 2006) was a stories and songs project with Year 1 / 2. The aim is for the children to learn songs and games developing pitch and rhythm awareness, listen to and interpret music and accompany stories with songs and music. Finally, it is hoped that the children will create their own stories with musical accompaniment and perhaps use puppets to perform the stories and songs.
Mr. I. Morton. B.Ed. Hons.
