Music @ CLPS

At Church Langley Primary School all pupils participate in regular music lessons as part of the National Curriculum and thoroughly enjoy singing. The school utilises the ‘Charanga’ scheme of work, devised by Essex Music Services, which provides children with opportunities to listen and appraise music, compose their own pieces and perform.

We take great pride in our musical productions, which include every child – regardless of ability – once each year; these performances have frequently been described, by parents, as ‘Better than the West End!’ I guess they may be biased? During the autumn term children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One take part in our annual Nativity, which incorporates a range of music, traditional and modern. The spring term affords pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5 the opportunity to entertain us all, with a unique musical performance every year. Finally, in the summer term Year 6 pupils perform a fitting ‘farewell’ tribute, which invariably evokes a range of emotions.

Additionally, pupils in KS2 entertain family and friends at our annual Christmas Carol Evening, whilst a smaller group of children in Years 5 and 6 embrace the true spirit of Christmas, giving back to the local community as they sing in a wide range of public forums including Old People’s Homes, supermarkets, and the Civic Centre, to name but a few.

Throughout the year children are given varied opportunities to experience a wealth of different types of music through our Musical Mondays, Music Weeks, and musical activities linked to other learning themes, e.g. this year children enjoyed Samba drumming as part of a school focus during the Football World Cup. Equally, pupils have been enthralled by visits to the Royal Albert Hall to watch performances of the ‘Classical Spectacular’.

In Year 4 all pupils are given the opportunity to learn keyboard skills within their normal lessons and children of different ages have enjoyed using our set of African Drums to explore rhythm, compose collective pieces and perform. The school has a wide range of tuned and unturned percussion which children of all ages learn to play appropriately. In addition, the school offers instrumental tuition after school in association with Essex Music Services; children can learn to play a host of instruments including the guitar, keyboard, violin, flute, trumpet, trombone and French horn; although parents can always enquire about the possibility of alternative instruments. Children learning to play an instrument are given opportunities to perform in front of their family and friends.