How do we teach Music at Nova?
We follow the Bristol Music Curriculum planning as a basis for our music teaching which allows children to develop their musical skills through units which celebrate Bristol’s history.
Each child will be able to progress through 3 music units throughout a year which focus on rhythm, composition and pitch/chronology. The inter-related dimensions of music (pitch, duration, structure, timbre, dynamics, tempo and texture) are taught throughout all units for children to develop a deep understanding of these musical concepts.
Music assemblies, which take place every other term in key stages, allow children further opportunities to develop their musical knowledge of different instruments and composers, practise their reading of music notation as well as providing opportunities to sing in unison and parts.
All children will have the opportunity to sing, compose and perform to an audience each year. This may be within year groups, whole school or to a wider audience such as in school concerts, Colston Hall Concerts, or visits within our local community.
You can find out more about the Bristol Music Curriculum here: Primary Curriculum – Bristol Music Curriculum
Here is an overview showing progression of children’s musical skills and knowledge through our curriculum:
Extra-curricular Music Opportunities: & Instrumental Lessons:
We have a free, un-auditioned choir for KS2, that runs from term 2 to term 6. Children attending our Nova Choir have the opportunity to perform to parents and to sing in parts with adults within the school.
In addition to our class music lessons we also offer instrumental lessons from Bristol Plays Music. At present we offer:
Violin lessons
Guitar lessons
drum lessons
We will be able to offer a wider range of instruments if there is enough interest. Please let Mrs Mortimer know if you would like your child to learn an instrument not listed above.
Instrumental lessons are provided by Bristol Plays Music peripatetic teachers. Currently, lessons are approximately £7 for a shared 20 minute lesson, or £14 for a private 20 minute lesson.
A 20-minute lesson can have a maximum of 2 pupils and a 30-minute lesson a maximum of 4 pupils, with the exception of Piano and Drum lessons which must have only 2 pupils regardless of duration. We strongly recommend that 30-minute lessons have a maximum of 3 pupils, to ensure quality of lessons and to allow for flexibility in adapting groups, as pupils progress at different levels. Individual lessons are also available and are advisable as pupils become more proficient in playing their instrument.
We do have some larger school violins available for loan, but have found most Y1 children will need a smaller violin. Instruments can be hired from Bristol Plays Music: https://www.bristolplaysmusic.org/learn/instrumental/instrument-hire/#:~:text=At%20Bristol%20Plays%20Music%20we,of%20our%20Music%20Centre%20ensembles.&text=*Band%20A%20instruments%20may%20be,for%20a%20nominal%20final%20fee.
Resources:
Sing Up – Love learning, start singing
Leadership:
Esther Mortimer is our Lead Musician who you can speak to to find out more about how we teach our Music Curriculum at Nova.
Our priorities this year:
To embed implementation of Beacon Bristol Music curriculum.
To develop teacher confidence and expertise in teaching our music curriculum (focus on singing and composition).
To improve outcomes in music for all groups through adaptive teaching .
Musical progression documents make clear the essential knowledge and skills needed to be taught in each musical strand.