Music

Music is a universal language that connects people of all different ages, cultures, social backgrounds and abilities. A well rounded music education will engage and inspire children to develop a love of music as well as develop good listening, co-operation, self-confidence, collaboration skills that they can take on into further education. The aim of a consistent, whole school approach to music education is to integrate music firmly into the creative life at Downe Primary School. Therefore, we aim to give all children a comprehensive introduction to Music during their time at school.

During their music journey children will show noticeable progression in starting in Reception with basic beats, tempi and exploring sound. Developing into KS1, where they home and develop their sense of pulse, pitch and dynamics range and ability. All children are taught using a variety of different instruments as well as a range of tuned and percussion instruments. The children are then exposed to more advanced musical terms such as ‘ostinato’, meaning a repeated pattern, and explore musical structures, chord progressions and composing and developing skills using Music technology. In KS2, children learn key composition, notation and musical structure skills whilst developing their listening skills further to enable them to compose and perform complex, polyphonic rhythms and songs utilising body percussion, their voice and instrumental skills. All children are given the opportunity to compose, improvise and perform on a regular basis.

Music History

Music history is taught throughout the curriculum where children are introduced to influential musicians from different genres and cultures. They learn to listen carefully with meaning, compare and contrast pieces and understand about important events in music, which provide children with a broad theoretical understanding of music and how it fits into society. All these steps ensure that children’s musical journey throughout their formative years is balanced and well-rounded to allow for creativity and knowledge to thrive.

Live Music Experiences

Live music experiences come, not only from our own talented musicians, but also our involvement in exciting events such as our regular carol singing engagements with St Mary’s Church and the Young Voices concerts at the 02 arena in Greenwich.

Music Clubs and private tuition

We are extremely lucky to have a team of peripatetic teachers from Bromley Bromley Youth Music Trust who provide one to one or group lessons during school hours. These instruments included flute, saxophone, piano and drums.

Singing

Each week, children participate in a singing assembly where we explore a variety of songs from different genres and cultures to enhance their musical knowledge and understanding. This gives children an opportunity to experience singing as part of a larger group. Singing is a basic human instinct that is continuously encouraged and developed and is a key element to develop their musicianship, listening skills as well as developing their vocal expression.

Research has shown that singing can be extremely beneficial for you on so many levels. It can help lower stress, boost immunity, enhance memory and improve mental health by releasing positive neurochemicals into our bodies. In music lessons, children are given an opportunity to further find their voice. Singing from a diverse repertoire, the children explore a broad range of songs exploring different languages, rhythmic movement, syncopated rhythms, body percussion and homophonic, monophonic and polyphonic rhythmic and melodic tools that complement their wider creative curriculum as well as their classroom learning.