Music Curriculum Intent Statement

We want children to be engaged with and inspired by music, and to develop a love of music.  We want children to develop their talents as musicians and increase their self-confidence and creativity.

Excellence in Music

Our School Band

At All Saints School, we think our school band is a shining strength and a key factor in our excellent music programme.

Our band plays on the stage during every celebration collective worship, which is held on a Friday and this becomes and aspiration for many other children.  Sitting on stage and playing music is 'cool'. Pupils and staff find it inspirational to see and hear the progress the band make throughout the year.

Our music programme aims to encourage and inspire all children to enjoy music, celebrate those with existing skills, develop emerging talent and provide opportunities to anyone who wants to try.

Children are invited to join the band if they are learning an instrument and our current band includes a grade 5 flute player, a grade 3 violinist, and some grade 1 saxophone, cornet and drum players.  Opportunities are also available for children who would like to learn an instrument. We partner with Maldon Youth Orchestra (see link below) and have instruments available, through them for children to learn.  Our lunchtime Huff and Puff, Flutti Tutti and violin clubs allow children to try out instruments (Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Tromboone, Euphonium and Violin) and learn some very basic skills.  They are encouraged to take further lessons if they show an interest and we recommend Essex Music Services Maldon Community Music school, which runs at the Plume on a Tuesday evening.  (link below). Everyone at All Saints plays the recorder and recives at least a half term of recorder lessons as part of the music curriculum. We would encourage children to have their own recorder but we have spares in school, so no one is left out. We have a recorder karate scheme (detailed below) that children can work on independently and once they are able to play a piece confidently and accurately they gain a piece of coloured string to tie to the bottom of their recorder. Becoming a black belt recorder player automatically earns them a place in the band.

Each week the band rehearses before collective worship and plays Happy Birthday and a national air related to the winning house team, for example Danny Boy for St Patrick or The Blue Bells of Scotland for St Andrew.

Singing

Singing is the golden thread that runs through everything musical at All Saints.

We have received the SingUp Platinum award and look forward to learning the Sing Up Day song each year. We can be spotted in every year's digichoir video. 

Singing is a part of collective worship and find that hymn singing is excellent for developing young children's voices.

We have a school choir, who performs in the commumity and at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as part of Barnardo's Young Supporter's event.

We have a house music competition where each house choses a song and points are awarded by our guest judges. 

Music Development Plan Summary

Academic year 2024-25

Curriculum Music

Please see our curriculum maps for our curriculum music. Each class has a weekly music lesson, using the model music curriculum as a base for lessons that provide opportunities for singing, instrument playing, creativity and listening. Musical notation is taught progressively and children from year one onwards use their recorder for at least half a term a year. ICT is used for at least half a term from KS2.

Co-curricular music

There is KS2 choir, band, Flutti Tutti, Huff and Puff Club and violin club for KS2.

The children accessing The Burrow SEND curriculum also have a dedicated weekly music lesson pitched at their level.

Year 5 have one term of whole class instrumental tuition(Toots ) through Essex Music Hub.

We have strong links with Maldon Music School and children who wish to develop further are referred to them, through Essex Music Hub.

Through a partnership with Maldon Youth Orchestra, orchestral instruments are offered on a free loan basis. We currently have violins, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, a euphonium, a cello and a trombone. Children who are interested in learning these instruments should talk to Mrs Chilver.

We have a dedicated music room and children who want to use it for personal practice should talk to Mrs Chilver.

Musical Experiences

At All Saints our choir and band enjoy performing whenever the opportunity arises. The band plays in every Friday assembly. We have an annual Summer Music Concert and perform at our church services. KS1 take part in a singing nativity show and year 5/6 perform an end of year musical.  The choir open the PTA Christmas and Summer fete. 

We work with Barnardo’s  and join their massed choir event at the Royal Albert Hall biennially and enter their choir competition.

We will perform with local groups, such as Maldon Choral Society.

Visiting musicians are invited into school.

Music beyond the curriculum