Music

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. We aim to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and develop their talent as musicians; developing their self-confidence, leadership, creativity and sense of achievement. Year 7 students are involved from the get-go having access to a range of musical activities from the classroom to the concert hall. They build on the outstanding singing, group work and instrumental studies undertaken in primary school.  As pupils progress, they will develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose and to listen with a critical ear to some of the best music in the world. In the lower year groups students will be given the opportunity to express themselves through a range of singing and performing activities working towards being involved in a whole school popular musical show. Higher up the school students will analyse, create and perform music in greater depth taking account of technology, techniques and production used in the music industry. These skills are further honed at the post sixteen stage with students taking on A’Level music and instrumental studies to Grade VIII and beyond. At St Aidan’s, we aim to instil in our students a lifelong love of music and the arts through being able to engage, participate and listen to music actively. Therefore enriching their lives, giving them a sense of community and allowing them to live life to the full.

Curriculum Intention:

  1. To play and perform confidently in a range of solo and ensemble contexts using their voice, playing instruments musically, fluently and with accuracy and expression
  2. To improvise and compose; and extend and develop musical ideas by drawing on a range of musical structures, styles, genres and traditions
  3. To use staff and other relevant notations appropriately and accurately in a range of musical styles, genres and traditions
  4. To identify and use the interrelated dimensions of music expressively and with increasing sophistication, including use of tonalities, different types of scales and other musical devices
  5. To listen with increasing discrimination to a wide range of music from great composers and musicians
  6. To develop a deepening understanding of the music that they perform and to which they listen, and its history
  7. To use and understand current musical technology
  8. To produce musical work of high quality that is inspirational to others
  9. To take small group tuition delivered by our talented, professional and dedicated peripatetic staff
  10. Opportunity to study a musical instrument in more depth on one or more of the following: strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, drums, guitar, bass guitar, piano, voice.
  11. To play or sing as part of a larger ensemble in assemblies, liturgies, school concerts and educational events

Curriculum Design

BCCET EYFS-KS2 Music Curriculum Narrative

BCCET EYFS-KS2 Music Overview

St Aidan’s Music Curriculum Progression Map

St Aidan’s Music Curriculum Learning Journey

Course Information

BTEC-Course Information Music

For more information about our sixth form course provision please follow the link below:

Courses « St. Anthony’s & St. Aidan’s Catholic Sixth Form (aaasixthform.com)

Implementation:

In music lessons students will be exposed to the six strands of music through:

  1. Singing – learn a range of songs from the shows, warm up techniques, songs from different cultures, time and place.
  2. Playing – basic keyboard skills through gaining a knowledge of notation and right and left hand techniques.
  3. Composition – draw on experience of songs from shows and different cultures to make simple musical compositions.
  4. Improvising – opportunities to experiment and explore music using knowledge of structures, scales, tonality and timbre gained in performance.
  5. Critical Engagement – time during lessons to reflect on and respond to singing, playing and their own musical performances.
  6. Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural – Opportunity to engage in music as a community; experience music of different cultures, time and place; ability to develop resilience in achieving musical goals.

Further to music lessons students will also engage with the curriculum:

  • Through performance in whole school events such as assemblies, liturgies and concerts.
  • Through opting to take Music in Y9 studying BTEC Tec award in Music Practice.
  • Through being selected to take GCSE music as an enrichment activity.

 Impact:

To enrich the lives of all involved in the community of St Aidan’s Catholic Academy engendering:

  1. A sense of belonging
  2. A sense of identity
  3. A sense of purpose
  4. Positive mental attitude
  5. A sense of social, moral, spiritual and cultural aspects of our community
  6. An ability to access the arts with confidence
  7. Living life to the full

Progress in:

  1. Self-confidence
  2. Self-expression
  3. Leadership
  4. Creativity
  5. Cooperation
  6. Teamwork
  7. Resilience
  8. Critical awareness of the arts
  9. Sense of achievement

Additional Information:

Instrumental Tuition Policy

Music Development Plan 2024

 

 

© 2025 Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.

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