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Music
Music at Westbourne is a subject where pupils build confidence through creativity and collaboration. Music provides valuable social, emotional and cultural experiences and opportunities.
At Westbourne School, the Music curriculum is designed to inspire a lifelong passion for music, fostering creativity and musical skills in a supportive and engaging environment. We provide a variety of learning opportunities, ensuring that all pupils develop a deep understanding of music and its processes.
Reception and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2)
In Reception and Key Stage 1, Music serves as a foundation for enjoying musical learning together. All pupils participate in two music lessons each week, where the curriculum is varied and designed to engage pupils through singing and fun musical games and activities. These activities help pupils absorb musical processes and concepts intuitively. Pupils are encouraged to sing and perform using a range of untuned and tuned percussion instruments. Composition is informally introduced through symbols and graphic scoring, fostering an early appreciation for creating music.
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 builds upon the musical skills and knowledge developed in Key Stage 1. Pupils are given the opportunity to learn as a whole class with stringed, wind, and keyboard instruments. Following this, they can choose to continue their musical studies with a specialist instrumental tutor. Composition is formally introduced, with pupils developing an understanding of formal musical notation, enabling them to write their own melodies, rhythms, and lyrics. More complex elements of music and musical form are explored to enhance pupils' ability to hear, understand, and play music.
Throughout Key Stage 2, pupils have access to a range of instrumental lessons with our peripatetic staff and can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Junior Choir, Beginner Chamber Group, theory lessons, and, in Years 5 and 6, the school’s annual musical theatre production.
The Music department is a lively part of the school calendar, with rehearsals and extracurricular activities taking place daily across both Junior and Senior sections.
Each term, pupils are given the opportunity to perform on instruments and sing in small informal concerts in the school hall, progressing to larger, more formal events at some of the city’s prestigious venues.
- Year 1 and Year 2 pupils perform a musical production in the Autumn Term.
- Year 3 and Year 4 pupils perform a musical production in the Summer Term.
- Key Stage 2 pupils have the opportunity to attend the Young Voices concert at Sheffield Arena.
Additionally, the Music department works in partnership with Sheffield's many fine music-making organisations, offering educational opportunities such as Music in the Round, Sheffield Music Hub, Young Voices, and Concerteenies. These partnerships allow pupils to engage with professional musicians and gain further exposure to high-quality musical experiences.
