MUSIC
Statement of Intent
Children at Horfield see themselves as musicians through inspiring music making at whole school, class and individual level.
At Horfield we follow the Bristol Music Curriculum and are part of the Earthsong and Listen, Compose, Imagine Perform Programmes. We believe inviting professional musicians to work with our children in partnership with Horfield significantly enriches our musical offering to all children. Music lessons are skills based and interactive aiming to foster a passion for music in children of all abilities. Our music curriculum is designed to help children know more, understand more and remember more about music so that they develop an appreciation for not only how music is created but also a life-long love of music in all its forms. Music is a strength of the school with high quality whole school singing and encouragement for children to take up an instrument in addition to their class lessons.
It is our vision that class music lessons give the opportunity for children to see themselves as musicians. Children are taught musical notation from EYFS and focus is placed on secure understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music through practical music making. Where possible, professional musicians are invited to teach alongside our staff bringing further aspirational opportunities for the children and children frequently attend concert venues in the city to perform and listen to live music. In school a broad balance of performance, listening and composition opportunities creates an enriching curriculum that celebrates music from different traditions and from great composers and musicians. Whole school events embrace music and use music to celebrate and share collective emotion. Music is an important part of collective worship and brings together the school in song and reflection. Close partnership with Bristol Beacon, St George’s and other arts groups enriches our provision and helps provide a stimulating musical experience in the classroom and rich extra-curricular provision.
2022-2023 Partnerships:
- EYFS developing early language through song - Community Musician Esther Stewart, weekly session
- Year 1 Early musicianship – ‘Finding my voice’ – Bristol Beacon Musician Pearl Love, weekly session
- Year 2,3 Earthsong – Start with Singing / Start with Playing – Bristol Beacon Musician Pearl Love, weekly session
- Year 3 Composition workshops led by composer Richard Barnard.
- Year 4 Earthsong x16 children receiving free instrumental tuition – oboe, clarinet, double bass, bassoon
- Year 4 Listen Compose Imagine Perform (Birmingham Uni / Birmingham Contemporary Music group) Mentoring over year led by composer Richard Barnard
- Year 5 Listen Compose Imagine Perform (Birmingham Uni / Birmingham Contemporary Music group) Composition project over the year led by composer Richard Barnard
- Year 6 Taiko Southwest – Drumming workshop and public performance in Term 6
Below are some of our latest exciting music projects
Implementation
Our music scheme of work follows the Bristol Music Curriculum. Children are taught musical notation and focus is placed on secure understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music through practical music making.
Where possible, professional musicians are invited to teach alongside our staff bringing further aspirational opportunities for the children and children frequently attend concert venues in the city to perform and listen to live music. In school a broad balance of performance, listening and composition opportunities creates an enriching curriculum that celebrates music from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.
Whole school events embrace music and use music to celebrate and share collective emotion. Music is an important part of collective worship and brings together the school in song and reflection. Close partnership with Bristol Plays Music and other arts groups enriches our provision and helps provide a stimulating musical experience in the classroom and rich extra-curricular provision.
This exciting event was a powerful example of how Horfield creates flourishing artistic partnerships. Our successful funding bids and leadership of this project enabled primary and secondary school children, professional composers, musicians, the local community and the church to come together, producing a 50 minute opera commemorating the centenary anniversary of the First World War. Our aim was to lead a project which deepened children’s understanding of this landmark event. Our KS2 Choir loved working with professional composers, musicians, choreographers and even a stained-glass window expert to produce their own stunning stained glass poppy. Choir’s performance was so moving, thoughtful and powerful. It drew two sell out audiences at St Mary Redcliffe Church!
Orchestra
Our school orchestra rehearses most Tuesday afternoons and on occasions, have the opportunity to join in workshops. In the summer of 2019, they joined with 14 other Bristol schools to create a symphony orchestra of over 200 musicians. This fantastic partnership was organised with Bristol Plays Music and the University of Bristol; the sound they made was amazing and parents who came to watch were very proud.
Song of the Sea
Inspired by a multi-school led STEM workshop, we invited children from Horfield to write song lyrics to address the global problem of plastic in the world’s oceans. Our composer-in-residence Claire Alsop used their inspiring lyrics to compose our ‘Song of the Sea.’ This was recorded by KS2 Choir and uploaded to youtube to spread our message as widely as possible. The impact of our ‘Song of the Sea’ has been even bigger than we imagined. Artsmark enabled us to promote the song further with an Instagram takeover. Our song was even featured on BBC Points West and KS2 Choir were invited by Sustainable Learning to sing at the launch of Bristol’s recycled boat, “The Poly Roger.” City to Sea then asked us to work with them to produce a promotional video of the song for World Ocean Day.
On World Ocean Day itself, we hosted a national sing-a-long of our song. Across the various media platforms, Song of the Sea has now had over ten thousand views and schools across Bristol and beyond have been singing our powerful song to raise awareness of this topical issue. What a superb example of the power of cross-curricular arts collaboration.
Our Music Curriculum by StrandOur Music Curriculum by Year GroupKey Musical Pieces by Year Group
