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Music


Why do we teach music?
At Dewhurst St Mary we believe that music is a universal language that expresses one of the highest forms of creativity. Our high-quality music lessons engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and grow as musicians. Teaching music allows the children will grow in confidence and gain a sense of achievement. As the children progress as musicians, they will develop a critical engagement with music that will allow them to compose and become active listeners. Year 4 pupils all learn the violin with some pupils increasing their skills, by playing other stringed instruments. Pupils are offered the opportunity to take individual lessons to learn to play the piano, recorder club or join our rock band.

Dewhurst St Mary aims to ensure that all of our 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.

Our music curriculum from Reception to Year 6 is based on the scheme of work produced by Kapow and is based in documentation from the National Curriculum and the Early Years Framework.  In September 2022, we have developed our teaching and learning in music in accordance with the DFE Model Curriculum for Music. We work in partnership with our local music hub.

Opportunities to take part in musical performances run throughout the year-in school and out! We actively participate in community events such as carol singing, services at St Mary’s Church as well as projects with local secondary schools to create combined choirs with other local schools.

‘Without music, life would be a mistake,’   Friedrich Nietzsche.