“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato

At St Peter’s we aim to engage and inspire children to develop a love of music.

• We aim to provide a curriculum that is practical and where children learn about music through making music.

• We aim to ensure that there are no barriers to participation and learning, allowing all children to experience the joys of making music, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

• Our music curriculum is designed to develop the musical skills of performing, composing and listening in a sequence of progressive units of work, allowing all children to progress to the next level of musical excellence.

At St Peter’s music is respected in all of its forms throughout school life, creating a strong culture of music making throughout the school.  At St Peter’s, pupil involvement and enjoyment in music is key. 

Music has a high profile throughout the school, and can be demonstrated not just by the high quality of music making in the classroom but also in the range of musical events and opportunities that children engage with throughout the school year.  Music also plays a key part in the spiritual and prayer life of the school, and we offer extensive extra-curricular activities where children can deepen and extend their musical learning and gain valuable musical experiences beyond those in the classroom.

Music Curriculum

Children receive high quality weekly classroom music lessons, where we deliver a carefully planned sequence of learning.  The learning environment at St Peter’s is one of practical music making, where every child has the opportunity to express themselves musically and experience the joys of making music. 

We believe that children are motivated by performance opportunities, where they can share and celebrate their achievements.  The music curriculum is therefore designed so that children’s learning has a clear and meaningful purpose, with performance opportunities and memorable musical experiences built into every unit of work. 

Children also regularly perform in class assemblies and performances.  One of the highlights of our school year is our KS2 Production, where children put on a collaborative performance at the end of the summer term.  Here every child takes a place on the stage to perform, led by the year 6s who take on the main roles.  Past performances have included: The Jungle Book, Aladdin, Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Lion King, Oliver! Annie! and Suessical the Musical.

Singing

At St Peter’s singing is an integral part of school life.  We believe that this is one of the most accessible forms of music making and provides a high level of learning opportunities and enjoyment for all pupils.  Children regularly sing within their classrooms, as well as in assemblies and liturgies.  The school comes together weekly for a whole school singing practice and we also run an extra-curricular Choir at lunchtimes.

Instrumental Music Making

At St Peter’s we have a strong tradition of instrumental music making.  The music curriculum provides regular opportunities for children to make music using instruments, offering opportunities for all children to perform on instruments both independently and together with their class.

We work in partnership with other agencies and organisations such as the Music Hub to excite and invigorate music making and musical experiences for the pupils.  We offer instrumental lessons to all children in KS2 - currently over half the children in years 3-6 learn an instrument!

We also run a School Band where our more experienced instrumentalists can come together and experience the joys of making music in an ensemble.  The band regularly perform to the school and to parents, the highlight being their Spring Concert where they celebrate their achievements with friends and family.

Liturgies and Mass

Music is also an important part of children’s spiritual experience in school, and at St Peter’s music is a valued expression for prayer, worship and praise.  Children actively participate in school masses and liturgies through music, whether that be through singing or playing their instruments, or by using music as a tool for prayer and reflection.

"Why do we teach music? Not because we expect you to major in music. Not because we expect you to play and sing all your life. Not so you can relax. But so you will be human. So you will recognise beauty. So you will be sensitive. So you will have something to cling to. So you will have more love, compassion, more gentleness, more good… in short, more life. Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live? That is why we teach music." ― Unknown