At St Joseph’s, we value music highly as a form of worship and as a creative, dynamic subject which encourages creativity, community and physical activity. As well as a weekly half hour Hymn Practice, we provide a one-hour stand-alone lesson for all pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 taught by music specialists in discrete music classrooms.

The focus of the lessons covers the four main aspects spelled out in the MMC (Model Music Curriculum) of the National Curriculum: singing, listening, composing, performing/instrumental performance.

In Key Stage 1, pupils start to sing songs from various traditions and different cultures, and later learn to play a host of tuned and untuned percussion instruments. They are also introduced to the basic elements of music such as pitch, rhythm, tempo and texture, and exposed to musical instruments from Western and wider cultures. Year 2 pupils start to learn the descant recorder, participate in the Key Stage 1 Nativity and perform in a Summer Concert.

In Key Stage 2, pupils move on with their knowledge and application of key musical skills such as scales, melody and harmony, sight-reading, syncopation and musical form. Pupils are taught sol-fa singing and extend their abilities of the recorder and tuned/untuned percussion. In Years 5 and 6, they develop keyboard skills through learning about soundscapes, synthesized music, blues scales, chords and improvisation.

All pupils in these years are given the opportunity to join the choir, which performs regularly at the Young Voices concert series and contributes to our Easter concerts and to the Year 6 Summer Musical Production. Lunchtime groups currently include Vocal Group and two Keyboard Clubs. Year 5 pupils also participate in the Key Stage 2 Nativity.

There is the chance for pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6 to learn how to play an orchestral instrument with our dedicated peripatetic staff provided by the Luton Music Service. Instruments on offer at the moment are violin/viola, cello, flute, clarinet, oboe and guitar. These pupils perform to the school at the Easter concert and at other times throughout the year.

For more detailed information on music at St Joseph’s, please see our ‘Curriculum Aims’ and ‘Knowledge and Skills Progression Ladder’ below.