Music at St Joseph’s – Inspiring a Love of Music
At St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy, we believe that music is a universal language that brings people together, inspires creativity and provides opportunities for every child to express themselves. Music is an important and valued part of our school life, enriching our curriculum, strengthening our sense of community and providing opportunities for children to discover and develop their individual talents.
Our aim is to provide a high-quality, inclusive and engaging music education that nurtures a lifelong love of music. We want every child to experience the joy of singing, playing instruments, composing and performing, whilst developing their confidence, creativity, resilience and sense of achievement.
Through our music curriculum, pupils are encouraged to explore a rich and diverse range of musical styles, traditions and cultures. As they progress through school, they develop the knowledge, skills and musical vocabulary needed to listen critically, appreciate music, express their own ideas and grow as confident, enthusiastic musicians.
Music also plays a special role in our Catholic school community. Through hymns, collective worship, liturgical celebrations and performances, children experience how music can bring us closer together, enrich our faith and provide meaningful opportunities for reflection and celebration.
National Curriculum Aims
Our music curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum, ensuring that all pupils:
- Perform, listen and appreciate: Experience, review and evaluate music from different historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of influential composers and musicians.
- Sing, play and compose: Develop their singing voices, learn to play musical instruments and create and compose music both independently and collaboratively.
- Develop musical understanding: Explore how music is created, performed and communicated through the inter-related dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure, alongside appropriate musical notation.
- Grow in confidence and creativity: Develop their musical skills, express their ideas, celebrate their achievements and build the foundations for continued musical learning.
Our Music Curriculum
At St Joseph’s, we primarily use the Get Set 4 Music scheme of work to deliver a progressive, engaging and carefully sequenced music curriculum.
Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to develop their musical knowledge and skills through practical, enjoyable and creative experiences. Pupils learn to sing, listen, perform, improvise and compose, building upon their prior learning as they move through the school.
We are also fortunate to benefit from the expertise of specialist music teachers and external providers, who further enrich our musical offer. These include:
- Katie Woodwright Music Services, providing specialist music teaching.
- Derbyshire Music Hub, supporting instrumental learning through its Classroom Instrumental Learning programme.
- Derby Cathedral’s Music in Schools programme, providing additional opportunities for high-quality musical education and enrichment.
These partnerships enable our pupils to learn from experienced musicians, explore different instruments and develop their musical abilities through a range of exciting experiences.
Music Beyond the Classroom
We believe that music should be celebrated and enjoyed beyond the classroom. At St Joseph’s, we are committed to providing memorable musical experiences that inspire our pupils, broaden their horizons and create lasting memories.
Our Lady of Lourdes Carol Concert
Our pupils have the opportunity to participate in this special celebration, joining with others in our Catholic community to share the joy and meaning of Christmas through music and song.
Young Voices
One of the highlights of our musical calendar is the increasingly popular Young Voices event at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield. This exciting experience gives our children the opportunity to perform as part of a large choir alongside thousands of other young singers. It is a wonderful celebration of teamwork, confidence and the joy of making music together.
World Music Day
World Music Day has become a much-loved annual event at St Joseph’s. This special occasion provides an opportunity for our whole school community to celebrate the diversity, creativity and enjoyment that music brings.
Through musical activities and shared experiences, pupils are encouraged to discover new sounds, appreciate different musical traditions and celebrate the power of music to connect people across cultures.
Extracurricular Music Lessons
At St Joseph’s, we are passionate about providing opportunities for children to develop their musical interests and talents beyond the classroom. We are delighted to offer access to additional music tuition through external providers, giving pupils the chance to explore different instruments, develop new skills and grow in confidence as musicians.
Rocksteady Music School
Through Rocksteady Music School, children have the exciting opportunity to experience playing in their very own rock band!
Working alongside specialist music teachers, pupils can learn to play instruments such as the electric guitar, keyboard and drums, or develop their singing skills.
Rocksteady provides a fun, inclusive and engaging approach to music education, encouraging children to work collaboratively, develop their confidence and experience the excitement of performing together.
The opportunity to rehearse and perform as part of a band helps children develop teamwork, communication, resilience and a real sense of achievement.
Piano and Guitar Lessons
We also offer children the opportunity to access additional piano and guitar tuition, enabling them to develop their instrumental skills and pursue their individual musical interests.
These lessons provide opportunities for pupils to build their musical knowledge, develop their technique and experience the satisfaction of learning to play an instrument.
Through these additional opportunities, we aim to inspire a lifelong enjoyment of music and encourage every child to discover and celebrate their musical potential.
Music and Our Catholic Faith
Music is an integral part of our Catholic identity at St Joseph’s. Singing and music enrich our collective worship, Masses, liturgical celebrations and special occasions throughout the school year.
Through sacred music and hymns, children are encouraged to participate actively in the prayer life of the school, deepen their understanding of our faith and experience the joy of worshipping together.
We believe that music provides a powerful opportunity for children to reflect, celebrate and express their faith, helping them to grow spiritually as well as musically.
Developing Musicians for Life
At St Joseph’s, we recognise that every child has musical potential. Whether singing in a choir, exploring an instrument, creating their own compositions or simply enjoying listening to music, we want every pupil to feel included, inspired and successful.
Our ambition is that children leave St Joseph’s with more than musical knowledge and skills. We want them to have developed confidence, creativity, an appreciation of different cultures and, above all, a lasting love of music.
Through our carefully planned curriculum, specialist teaching, instrumental tuition, extracurricular opportunities and memorable musical performances, we aim to ensure that music remains a joyful, enriching and inspiring part of every child’s journey at St Joseph’s Catholic Voluntary Academy.
