Music
Music at Spring Bank
Music plays an important part in life at Spring Bank. All classes have a weekly music lesson. 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 5 and 6 – lunchtime ICT music club using GroovyCity
Years 1 – 6 – Christmas choir
Musicians in school
Year 6 are working with Victoria Jaquiss from Artforms every week on a project involving steel pans, tuned percussion and drums. This is sounding fantastic and the children are really benefitting from the specialist tuition and enthusiastic approach!
This half term we have had students from Leeds College of Music working with Year 3 each week, exploring songs, rhythms and music from different countries.
As part of their topic on St Lucia, Year 4 are taking part in a steel pan workshop in school.
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.
Outside performances
Musicians from our school joined with musicians from Shire Oak to perform at Headingley Music Festival’s Youth Music Day in the summer. A group of guitar players from our school also performed, including some of their own compositions.
Some children from Years 5 and 6 have taken part in a Schools’ concert at LeedsTown Hall at Christmas this year as part of a choir.
Children learning instruments in school have the opportunity to perform with children from other schools at Development days organised by ArtForms.
Our Christmas choir has sung carols outside in Headingley to raise money for Shelter.