Music
Music at Spring Bank
Music plays an important part in life at Spring Bank. All classes have a weekly music lesson delivered by the class teacher or Music Co-ordinator. In addition to this, music is experienced across the school in many ways.
Singing
A wide variety of songs are sung enthusiastically in a whole school singing assembly every week, with some songs including actions, Makaton signs and percussion instruments. Singing can also be heard in many classes supporting every area of the curriculum from Science to History.
Listening
Children are exposed to a wide variety of musical styles through carefully selected assembly music which is played on the way into and out of assembly every day. This music is changed weekly and introduced by the Head teacher in Monday morning’s assembly.
After-school clubs
A variety of free after-school clubs are available at different times throughout the year. These have included:
Year 3 and 4 – glockenspiel, djembe and boomwhackers
Reception and Key Stage 1 – musical games and composing music for a story
Year 4, 5 and 6 – world music (with students from Leeds College of Music)
Years 1 – 6 – Christmas choir
Outside performances
In 2010/2011 all of Year 6 took part in a project with Little London Primary School using steel pans, djembes and other percussion to perform together. They had weekly sessions in school and this culminated in a performance at the National Festival of Music for Youth. We hope to continue this project in future years.
Some children from Years 5 and 6 are taking part in a Schools’ concert at Leeds Town Hall at Christmas this year as part of a choir.
Instrument lessons
From Year 3 or 4 children have the opportunity to learn instruments in small groups. At the moment we are able to offer guitar, trumpet, flute and clarinet lessons. These are provided by peripatetic teachers from Artforms and subsidised by the school although there is still a charge for lessons.
Last year, all children in Year 4 learnt world percussion for an hour a week as part of the Wider Opportunities scheme provided by Artforms.
Arts Award
Children in Year 6 are given the opportunity to work towards their Bronze Arts Award (a national level 1 qualification) to celebrate their experiences of the arts (not just music!) and we are fortunate that our music co-ordinator is a trained advisor.