Music at Gawber 

'The sheer joy of music making can feed the soul of a school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which make a great school.'

The Model Music Curriculum, DfE, March 2021 

At Gawber, we believe that music has a hugely positive impact on emotional, physical and mental well-being. In the same way that we teach children literacy and numeracy to prepare them for adult life, we must also give them the musical tools they need for a lifetime of music-making, appreciation and enjoyment. Learning music provides children with experiences and skills which develop their creativity. It also provides children with a source of joy, comfort and shared experience. Our music curriculum ensures that all of our children learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together, and to have the opportunity to develop their musical interests and talents. 

The National Curriculum aims to ensure that all 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. 

Teachers at Gawber use the Kapow Music Scheme, which fulfils the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum and provides clear progression through each year group. The curriculum is taught through four main strands: 

• Performing
• Listening
• Composing and improvising 
• The history of music 

The inter-related dimensions of music are the 'building blocks' of music, and run throughout the scheme as an over-arching strand: 

● Pulse
● Pitch
● Duration
● Dynamics
● Tempo
● Timbre
● Texture
● Structure
● Appropriate musical notation

The progression of learning is cyclical, so that children return to the same skills and knowledge again and again during their time at school. Each time a skill or area of knowledge is revisited, it is covered with greater depth. Children are taught music regularly in school, so that they are given the time to consolidate their learning, and develop control and fluency when performing. 

Instrumental Lessons 

The DfE’s Model Music Curriculum 2021 states that:
‘In Years 3 or 4, it is recommended that each class should start a whole-class instrumental
programme lasting a minimum of one term...Opportunities for development should
continue beyond the mandatory term.’
 

In Year 3, children at Gawber are taught whole-class glockenspiel lessons in three half-term blocks. This provides them with key understanding of reading and following staff notation, which they will continue to develop as they move through KS2. This core knowledge also helps to develop their confidence as composers. 

Music in the Early Years 

The Kapow Music Schemes aligns with the 2021 EYFS Statutory Framework, which states that: 

• Children sing a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs.
• Children perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others, and (when appropriate) try to move in time with music.

Staff in FS2 also support children in their use of music as part of child-led play, whether singing songs, listening to music, dancing or playing instruments. This allows the children to express their creativity and emotions, as well as reaching a deeper level of musical understanding. Music is embedded in daily routines, such as 'wake and shake' movement breaks, as well as in other areas of learning, such as nursery rhymes in English and number songs in Maths. 

Singing at Gawber 

Singing has many physical, social, psychological and educational benefits. Our weekly singing assemblies give children the opportunity to improve their singing and performance skills, as well as helping to develop a shared sense of identity and enjoyment. Children also experience singing to a larger audience in our Nativities, carol concerts and harvest festival. 

Extra-Curricular Music Lessons 

Barnsley Music Education Hub offers music lessons and instrument hire for children seeking to learn an instrument. Specialist music teachers come in to school and teach individuals and small groups a range of different instruments, including strings, guitar and woodwind. 

Young Voices

Children in KS2 are given the opportunity to take part in the Young Voices choir concert. The choir rehearse songs in school, led by Miss Wilson, our Year 3 teacher. They then perform in an arena venue together with thousands of other children. This valuable experience develops children's self-esteem, confidence and communication as part of a team, as well as their musical ability. For information on Young Voices follow the link: https://www.youngvoices.co.uk/for-parents 

Barnsley Youth Choir

We are proud to be part of Barnsley Youth Choir's school partnership programme. BYC provides outstanding opportunities for young people who live in Barnsley and has developed a reputation for excellence. The choir is ranked 3rd in the World Rankings in its category and has won 8 first prizes in some of the biggest international competitions in the world.  

One of the Barnsley Youth Choir leaders recently visited Gawber to provide a singing workshop for our lower KS2 children, and to work with staff to develop singing across school. Listen to the children's amazing performance by following the link below...

To see and hear our fantastic performances, take a look at our twitter page! #GawberMusic