Music

Welcome to our Music page!

At St George's, music plays a really important part in school. We love to sing and all classes have a music lesson each week. Many of our children also have violin, piano or brass lessons.

Our vision is to provide an excellent, well-rounded education which celebrates academic, emotional and spiritual achievement and prepares everyone to fulfil their full potential in an inclusive environment in God’s World.

“Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20

As stated in the new ‘National Plan for Education’ (2022) Music is a cornerstone of the broad and balanced education that every child should receive. It touches hearts and minds, it celebrates and challenges, and it connects us and moves us At St George’s, our Music curriculum is underpinned by the above statement and we believe that Music is an essential part of children’s development throughout the school, from our youngest children in Nursery, through to the young adults we hand over to the next phase of their lifelong journey. We use a combination of class teaching, specialist teaching and use Get Set4Music as a resource to support teaching.

The following aims are embedded within our teaching and are central to the engaging lessons where our children encounter a range of opportunities to explore music in all its forms.

We aim for all pupils to:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians

• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence

• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

• be taught by a music specialist, ensuring high quality and confident teaching with high expectations.

• have opportunities to sing and play in ensembles. All instrumentalists and singers have the opportunity to learn within a group environment; both in school and out of school, through sign posting to the local Hub led ensembles.

At St George’s, our intent is to provide a high quality music education which enables children to develop a love of music whilst increasing self-confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement. Our aim is to provide a music curriculum that engages and inspires pupils to nurture their talent as musicians. The children gain a strong understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, different cultures and musical genres.

We encourage children at St George’s to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as the understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life.

We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.

Progression in Music - Listening

Progression in Music - Performance

Progression in Music - Composition

Music Road Map

Music at St George's

Class 2S have been learning about crescendo and diminuendo. They have used percussion instruments to recreate sounds inspired by music about the Great Fire of London, as well as general fire-related noises. They have also practised playing at different volumes and at different paces.

Music in Year 1:

The children in 6G participating in their Music Technology lesson with Apollo Arts:

Reception - Music Monsters Workshop:

RS & RG had a wonderful time during their Music Monsters workshop! The children were introduced to the ideas of loud and quiet sounds, learning the musical words forte and piano. They practised using all their fingers to play notes on the keyboard and explored simple rhythms using crotchets and crotchet rests. Everyone enjoyed taking turns to play individually before coming together to perform as a whole orchestra. It was an exciting first experience that filled the room with music, teamwork, and smiles!

Music Monster Scholarship Opportunity:

Following the fantastic return of our piano lessons with Music Monsters. Please see below the link to a scholarship opportunity. For all those that are interested in applying the closing date for applications is 1st October 2025.

The Music Monsters’ Scholarship Programme - Music Monsters

Durham Music Service - Violinists

Our wonderful violin musicians receiving their next DMS certificates, what superstars!

Apollo Arts Music:

At St George's all classes have the opportunity to access lessons with a musical specialist. This year, Years 4, 5 and 6 have had the opportunity to learn to play the ukulele. The children have grown in confidence recognising musical notations such as G , C , E and A. We have looked at chords which require us to play all 4 strings at the same time! In Year 3 children have used the boomwhackers to explore body percussion. In KS1 the children have been focussing on singing and percussion.

Year 4 Brass

Our Year 4 brass players have been working hard this term to develop skills in playing the cornet and baritone. Here is an audio recording of the brass players playing 'Mr Cool.'

/i/video/St_Georges_Y4_Mr_Cool.m4a

Violin Celebration Performance:

This morning our Year 4 and Year 6 pupils performed a series of music pieces. They showed excellent confidence, posture and a love of music which was so wonderful to share with all pupils and staff at St George's. Well done Year 4 and Year 6!

/i/video/IMG_1208.mov

Spring Term 2024:

In Year 4 pupils have been using the drum pads to play single and double stroke exercises.

The children are beginning to recognise music notation.

These include:

a crotchet (1 beat), crotchet rest (1 beat rest), a minim (2 beats) , minim rest (2 beat rest) and even had a go using a stick click in the exercises!

Great work Year 4!

/i/video/IMG_0814.mov

Autumn Term 2023:

Today, our key stage 2 choir visited Dinsdale Court to sing the residents some Christmas carols and spread some Christmas cheer!

The children conducted themselves fantastically and sang loudly and from the heart! Well done to our choir!

Middleton Hall Visit:

Members of our school choir visited Middleton Hall and performed some Christmas songs for the residents.

Apollo Arts:

This term, pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 have participated in workshops with Apollo Arts. Pupils have developed their skills in composition, musicianship, listening and singing. Classes explored drumming from different parts of the World. Children got the opportunity to play the drums as well as learn about drumming around the World (Africa and South America). The children learnt lots of new vocabulary with Mr Sudlow and how to read and play music. All classes had some great fun playing various drumming games.