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Music
Music is valued highly at Handcross. We know that through learning music at any level, children develop creativity, self-discipline, confidence, critical thinking, problem solving and the ability to cooperate and collaborate with others. They also have lots of fun! But even more importantly at Handcross we value music for its own sake, and strive to foster a life-long love of music. Every child at Handcross is a musician and a singer!
See our Music Blog here for full info on our recent music events and performances from the music classroom.
Music Curriculum Aims
To develop music understanding in all pupils and promote a lifelong love of music.
To develop all children as young musicians with confidence in their singing and instrumental performance.
To develop knowledge of music from a wide variety different cultures and musical periods.
To present a diverse selection of music and musicians through which the children will discover their own musical preferences.
Instrumental Music Curriculum
In Key Stage 2 the children learn music directly through performance on musical instruments.
Year 3: Recorder
Year 4: Recorder and Ukulele
Year 5: Ukulele and Djembe
Year 6: Djembe, Garageband, Xylophones
Parents are encouraged to purchase recorders and ukuleles for children in year 3 and 4 so that children can practise their instruments at home during the week. These instruments are available directly from the school shop. All children have free access to an instrument at school.
Singing
When children start school, singing is incorporated into daily routines and is used to enhance teaching of the core curriculum in addition to being taught as part of stand-alone music lessons.
Singing is a core part of all our music lessons at school, which are taught using a Kodály approach. Songs are chosen to link with school topics
Alex Bondonno leads a weekly whole-school singing assembly and singing together is also an integral part of our celebrations and special events throughout the year, such as the Harvest Festival and Candle-lit Christmas Celebration.
We have a free weekly choir after school, which all Key Stage 2 children are welcome to attend throughout the year. They have lots of additional opportunities to perform throughout the year.
Music Lessons
Every child at Handcross has a weekly music lesson taught by our specialist Music teacher, Alex, in our music classroom: Foxes. Children have access to a range of instruments and technology to support their learning.
All children can achieve in music. Lessons are fun, hands-on and allow imagination and expression to blossom whilst focusing on developing key musical skills:
- Listening and analysing
- Composition
- Performance (singing and playing)
- Notation
We follow the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Music but have also developed our own in-depth progression document to ensure that skills and knowledge develop appropriately all across year groups.
National Curriculum: Music Programme of Study
Special Events and Opportunities
In additional to performing in the annual nativity (Infants) and summer production (Juniors), children may also have opportunity to attend other music events in the locality, such as the 'Big Sing' for Year 5 and 'Little Big Sing' for Year 2. Music assemblies take regularly every term and music is also an integral part of class celebration assemblies.
Children also have the opportunity to attend our musical after-school clubs. Choir takes place each week on Thursdays after school. Orchestra is at lunchtime on Fridays. Other instrumental groups take place during the year e.g. Ukulele Club.
Children can also sign up to Rocksteady band lessons, or instrumental music lessons provided by West Sussex Music on Piano, keyboard, clarinet, saxophone and violin at additional cost, although bursary places and free instrument hire are available for some families on low incomes.
This year, our school choir sang their hearts out at the stunning Chichester Cathedral, previously they have participated in "The Big Sing" at Ardingly college. The choir have also performed some wonderful festival numbers at our Winter and Summer Fairs!
Music bringing the Handcross Community together - Lockdown Music May 2020
In May 2020, during the period of school closure, the school community came together to create 'The Great Handcross Sing-along' to sing together and have fun, even when we were apart. Paloma Faith even got involved! Mrs Bondonno spoke on the radio about it and her and Mrs Davies were on BBC South East talking about the project!
Music Resources to access at home
Myleene's Music Klass (YouTube)
BBC Bitesize KS2 activitiesBBC Bitesize KS1 activitiesOut of the Ark - Songs to learn How to use GarageBandGareth Malone's Great British Home Chorus (YouTube singing lessons)
Ollie Tunmer 'Beat Goes On' body percussion (YouTube)
