|
Music
Much importance is placed on music at Norwood Green Infants School as a way to improve language skills, foster a love of the arts and as a medium for the children to express themselves. The school was awarded Artsmark Gold in June 2007 in recognition of the schools’ commitment to music and the arts.
Music at Norwood Green Infant School is taught by a specialist music teacher who teaches every class, from Nursery to Year Two every week.
We use the “Music Express” Scheme of work, published by A C Black as a basis, but opportunities are taken to supplement the scheme by using classroom percussion instruments, musical games and singing a variety of songs wherever possible.
In Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), children listen carefully and respond physically to a wide range of different kinds of music. They play musical instruments and sing a variety of songs from memory, adding accompaniments and creating short compositions with increasing confidence, imagination and control. They explore and enjoy the way sounds and silence can create different moods and effects.
In the Foundation stage (Nursery and Reception), children have the opportunity to sing, explore sounds and dance and/or move to music. They explore and recognise how sounds can be changed; sing simple songs from memory, recognise repeated sounds and sound patterns and match movements to music. They also have the opportunity to communicate their ideas, thoughts and feelings by singing a variety of songs and use musical instruments.
In addition to class music lessons, there is a weekly singing assembly for Key Stage 1 and also for the Foundation Stage (Reception and Nursery classes) where the children come together to sing and learn new songs.
In addition, both Key Stage 1 and the Foundation Stage put on separate Christmas shows which feature music but also dance and drama.
In the Summer, we have a concert where the children sing and recorders, choir and other groups have an opportunity to show what they have learnt throughout the year. Parents and friends of the school are invited to this event.
We welcome visiting musicians and have had a number of workshops featuring instruments from all over the world. All the children were given the opportunity to listen to and play many instruments.
Extra curricular activities
All children in Year Two are given the opportunity to learn the recorder for a period of six weeks. The school makes no charge for these lessons and lends each child a school recorder for the duration of their lessons.
Year 2 children are able to join in the school choir which meets every week at lunchtime. There the children learn more challenging songs and perform regularly in assemblies and in the Summer end of term concert.
|
