At Guillemont Junior School we believe music is inclusive and accessible to all. We expose our children to different instruments, composers, genres and cultures. We inspire our children to be creative and have a love of learning by exposing them to stimuli and teaching using high quality examples that are performed via live experiences or technology. As musicians, children will learn about the different dimensions in music and are able to plan, practice, perform and evaluate their own and others’ work. They will work independently and collaboratively, to understand notation; feel confident performing with instruments or using their own voice; and share their work and skills with others. There is a clear learning journey across all of the four year groups that ensures there is progression in skills and knowledge and that children remember and retrieve prior learning over time.
At Guillemont Junior School the music curriculum consists of: a timetabled music lesson each week; a weekly singing assembly, where singing skills are taught and refined by a range of teachers, so that the children are exposed to a wide range of singing styles; a whole year group, high quality, sustained performance either at Christmas or the end of year 6; performances in class assemblies or end of project celebrations; exposure to a wide range of composers/ musicians/genres/ cultures along with appropriate historical references. Music is also taught in parallel with other subjects such as Dance and Science. Over the last year we have provided many opportunities for children to listen to musicians virtually and aim to invite musicians into school for live performance where possible. We have visited local and national venues to hear and work with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Grange Opera, rather than listening virtually as we feel interaction with musicians is a vital skill and learning experience. There are established links with Hampshire music service to enrich the music provision at our school.
We offer extra-curricular opportunities to sing in the choir and take part in Young Voices at the O2 London or sing at local music festivals. Children can also have specialist instrumental lessons on recorder, drums, piano and ukuleles. There is an expectation for children to share knowledge and expertise of their instruments to benefit and inspire other pupils.
Lessons show children progress from Year 3 to Year 6, they use a variety of instruments with care for expression, effect, accuracy and creativity and use their voices with an increasing awareness of tune, tone, pitch and harmony,. Pupils have the opportunity to grow in skills including listening, recognising, reproducing, composing, performing, conducting, leading and reflecting. Children are making links in their learning in other subjects and to the Guillemont Core values and are able to work and perform alone and in a group, having an awareness of others working in groups and teams. Teachers are skilled at asking questions to push learning forward, reason and improve or address misconceptions.
Music schemes of work show how children will gain knowledge, remember and retrieve key facts, master skills, plan, prepare and perform. They build on previous knowledge and skills to ensure each child progresses during their time with us from their various starting points. All lessons are inclusive to allow all to succeed and children will be supported through teacher guidance, reducing cognitive load or Widget Online symbols.
We strive to ensure that our children‘s attainment is in line with or exceeds their potential when we consider their varied starting points.
We will be holding morning tours for prospective parents on Monnday 28th September and Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd October 7th October (9am – 12pm).
