At Brackenwood Junior School, we value music as a powerful and unique form of communication that can change and impact the way children feel, think and act. Music is an important subject for all children to learn and leads to better brain development, increases in human connection and collaboration, and even stress relief. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop their musical potential and we aim to nurture and encourage musical development across the school. All children have the opportunity to develop their understanding, skills and techniques in music through singing, listening, playing, performing and evaluating. This is embedded in classroom activities and performances, the learning of instruments and the joining of our school choir.

Following the new 2021 music curriculum framework provided by the government, each year group follows a clear set of music skills to ensure they are progressing and developing their ability in music throughout their time at our school. Throughout school, all children experiment with pulse and rhythm using their voices and a variety of percussion instruments. They learn how to use symbols to play, notate and record music. In addition to this, they learn a tuned instrument, which is taught by a teacher or a music specialist. In doing so, they begin to understand the different principles of creating music, as well as how to read basic music notation. Children also learn how to improvise and compose music, using instruments and computer technology, working collaboratively with others in pairs or small groups.

Children are exposed to a diverse range of music from the last thousand years, to appreciate and discuss different forms of music. This includes a trip to experience a live orchestra performing a special concert for local schools at the Liverpool Philharmonic.

There are opportunities for children to experience music outside the classroom, with the school’s involvement in music festivals and events within the MAT. There are clubs such as choir for children to participate in too. Peripatetic teachers, who come into school to teach music lessons, provide opportunities for children to learn and develop their skills in groups or on a 1:1 basis from an experienced musician.