'Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity' according to a paper published by the government in 2022.  The paper also goes on 'It is also a vital part of a broad and rounded education'.  We wholeheartedly agree. 

That is why we ensure that our children have a good musical education, led by our wonderful music specialist, Ken Serukenya.  Most children at the school receive a full hour of music education each week with a half an hour music lesson and a half an hour singing assembly.  Following the National Curriculum, our children are given opportunities to use their voices creatively, play tuned and untuned instruments, listen to a range of music and experiment with how to create music.  As parents and carers know, we also value giving our children the opportunity to perform in our class assemblies, our Christmas Shows and our musical showcases.   

For the last two weeks, we have reviewed our musical learning.  Teachers say that our children greatly enjoy their music lessons and look forward to them each week.  We are very proud of the opportunities that the children have to learn different instruments as they journey through the school:  percussion instruments, djembe drums, glockenspiels, ukuleles, recorders, violins and guitars.  We are also pleased to extend our music learning beyond the usual school ours: our KS2 choir and our orchestra before school and our two Music Clubs after school.  

This year, we have developed our music learning by subscribing to the Musician of the Month so our pupils have learnt new composers and musicians.  Not only have our students learn about different musicians but also been exposed to different genres of songs from different parts of the world by diverse musicians.  We have also invited the parents and carers of different classes into the school to share in their children's learning and we will continue to do this in the next academic year.  

But really, it is down to how the kids feel about their music that is important: 

"I think music is very nice as I get to learn the things I haven't learnt before .... difficult songs, notes, how to sing.  Learning instruments is very cool."  Anna, Year 3

"I like singing assemblies because when we all sing together it sounds good."  Nil, Year 2

"I like learning the glockenspiel because it's really beautiful and it makes cool beats.  I also like the Musician of the Month as sometimes we learn classical music, sometimes we learn about friends and sometimes they are from different locations."  Aris, Year 2

"I think music makes me happy."  Ocean, Year 2 

Looking forward, we are hoping to add to our musical offer to enable children to access one to one or group lessons with a music specialist from the Haringey Music Service.  A google form will be coming before the end of the year for parents to be able to express their possible interest in this.     

Philippa Kennedy, Music Lead