At All Saints’, our music curriculum is structured around the aims of the National Curriculum, with some links to our liturgical calendar events. As part of each unit of work, children have the opportunity to engage through experimentation, and learn and build on their skills to create a final outcome that they evaluate and reflect upon. Specifically, the curriculum draws upon the approach of Orff Schulwerk. Throughout units of work, the children move through four stages in order to organise the process of teaching and delivery of music: imitation, exploration (engaging), improvisation (skill-building), and composition (Create-Evaulate).

These four stages establish the fundamental building blocks for children to develop musical literacy. “Play is the work of childhood” -  Jean Piaget. 

Children are encouraged to build their confidence, starting from simple to complex concepts, as well as to use their bodies as a main instrument to transfer those skills to instruments. "Experience first, then intellectualise." -Karl Orff. Lessons are viewed as a place to experiment and take risks, without the fear of doing ‘wrong’. Children are encouraged to evaluate their music and work individually, and as a group. Mistakes and difficulties are part of our learning journey and children won’t give up - this is the key to success.

Across the school, we encourage active listening to music from different genres and artists. Children learn to sing and learn instruments from Early Years, starting with simple percussion and moving on to more complex ones, such as the Ukelele, in Upper Key Stage 2. 

Music is also used to aid concentration during morning work and for more creative tasks, as well as setting the tone of reverence in worship, throughout the school. 

Singing at All Saints' is vitally important and is practised both in lessons, and then outside of music lessons, such as during our Singing Worship weekly. Children are given the opportunity to join the school choir club, support choices in Singing Worships, as well as joining community singing events, and also get the opportunity to perform as a group. The children sing carols at Christmas time, through the performance of the Nativity in EYFS and KS1. KS2 children participate in singing at the Church for community events throughout the year.

The children’s music journey is further enhanced with planned weeks such as STEAMM week, Community Fortnight and engaging with the Merton Music Foundation. 

“Since the beginning of time, children have not liked to study. They would much rather play, and if you have their interests at heart, you will let them learn while they play”. – Karl Orff.