Music at Stanford

Intent: The Music curriculum at Stanford School is unique. It is broad and balanced with a breadth of engaging opportunities. It is carefully planned and sequenced with key skills, concepts and knowledge that build on previous learning. Pupils revisit their learning and use and apply their knowledge fluently.

Pupil learn to understand and use specific musical vocabulary called Tier 3 words. (Tier 3 words are subject-specific words that are used within a particular subject. This is the language of scientists, mathematicians, literary critics etc.) For musicians, Tier 3 words could be words such as, ‘improvise’ or ‘pentatonic’ etc. Please see our progression of Tier 3 words for more examples.

Implementation: The Music curriculum is purposeful and relevant to the pupils. The knowledge and skills pupils acquire, build on their previous learning, allowing them to transfer key skills, knowledge and concepts to their long-term memories.

Impact: We are proud of the achievements of our pupils in Music. Our pupils fluently apply their skills and knowledge within Music and make connections to their existing knowledge and to other curriculum areas.
Music is a real strength of the school. Pupils enjoy singing, composing and listening to a wide range of music. We place a strong emphasis on practical music making from Foundation all the way up to Year 6. Many opportunities for performing are provided throughout the year. E.g.: Christmas concerts, assemblies, church services, ‘The Stanfest’ and inter-school singing festivals.

We aim to give the pupils unique musical experiences. They have the opportunity to perform alongside pupils from other schools and experience working with professional or visiting musicians. Mrs. S. Groves, a specialist in World Percussion music offers experiences including; Samba, Taiko and Djembe.

Extra-curricular music includes; guitar lessons and a Music Therapy club where children can play guitars, keyboards, drums, sing and learn how to be a DJ.

Music in the community is also important and embraced at Stanford School. The choir, individual classes and instrumental players regularly perform for various community groups in Laceby and its surrounding areas.

The Stanford School Song

Our very special school song was written several years ago by former teachers; Joan Blandford and Wendy Elsey. When we sing the song it makes us feel proud to be part of Stanford School and by singing it we keep an important tradition alive.

Living together, learning together, growing together,

We’ll make our school a little world

That will show the big world how it ought to be.

 

Whether I write a story, puzzle with numbers and lines,

Sing, paint, sew or run a race,

Our world can’t be full of winners but still I can do my best.

If I try I’ll make my school a better place.

 

Living together, learning together, growing together,

We’ll make our school a little world

That will show the big world how it ought to be.

 

Each one of us is important; each has a part to play,

So many things I can give if I only try.

I’ll be cheerful and understanding, even when things go wrong.

Together we’ll build our world as the days go by.

Our School Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Friend of all children,
Bless our school at Laceby ,
Bless the children, teachers and others who work in it.
Help us to do our best,
To be kind to one another,
And be cheerful all through the day.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

Information

At Stanford School we have several visiting peripatetic music teachers who offer instrumental tuition. For more information, please download the application form.

See also:

A parents guide to the new National Curriculum (not Foundation/Seedlngs class). More information can be found on the Rising Stars website

Music MarkMusic Mark

We are very proud to have become members of Music Mark. Music Mark is the national subject association for music education.

Music Mark believes in the fundamental right of a first-class music education for all children and young people, in and out of their schools.  As a subject association and membership organisation we:

  • support the development of high quality teaching and learning
  • enhance subject knowledge of music curriculum and effective leadership of music
  • share the good practice and expertise of our membership

We became a member because it has Stanford

  • recognises the value of music education as part of a broad, balanced and relevant school curriculum
  • demonstrates a willingness to engage in the development and improvement of music provision for all children and young people within your school community
Lincolnshire Music and Arts Education Hub

Lincolnshire Music Service is an active member of Music Mark and we are delighted our school has been commended by them to join our national membership organisation.

BBC Bring the Noise

Learn to sign and dance-a-long to the songs.
Watch the music videos and see how they vary in different genres, from electronic synthesiser sounds, slow ballads to pop, upbeat and lively summery tunes.
You can dance along, make up your own actions or learn BSL (British Sign Language) actions.
Have fun!

BBC Bring the Noise

Making Music

Online Music Lessons

Music Making is Fun!

The Year 1 and 2 children have been enjoying singing and making music together.
They have learnt the names of a wide range of percussion instruments and have found out the different ways that they can be played. They can play their instruments in time to keep a steady beat and sing tunefully together in unison. They are now learning to play the glockenspiel.

S- I just love singing the rainbow song because it is so bright and cheerful.
O- The song makes me get up and dance.
J- I learnt that the scraper instrument is called a guiro.
F- If you let the triangle ring out, you can feel it’s vibration.
C- The wood block is my favourite instrument. If you tap it with a beater; it is loud!
W- I’m really enjoying learning the glockenspiel. You have to find the right notes, concentrate and watch the music on the board. I am getting better at it.
D- Mrs. Brady showed us a xylophone player called Evelyn Glennie. She was amazing, she could play with four beaters. I was so surprised when Mrs. Brady told us that she is deaf. She has to feel the vibrations with her body.

Christmas Superstars!

A very well done to the lovely Year 2 children for their amazing performance of ‘Little Angel Gets Her Wings.’ Their acting, speaking, dancing and singing was wonderful. Well done everyone.

C- I can’t believe that I managed to sing on my own on the stage.
C- I loved being a shepherd.
F- I liked being a narrator and telling the story.
C- I really loved singing all the songs.
J- I played two parts in the end. I had to quickly learn what to do.
J- Being a king was lots of fun.
M- All the parents enjoyed our show: they gave us a big clap at the end!

Music Therapy Club

What are the benefits of music therapy?

It provides an excellent means to increase communication, interaction and social skills, as well as enhancing physical skills and promoting overall well-being.

The children are really enjoying our Thursday after school club, led by Mr. James. Each week they explore a wide variety of instruments and use technical equipment to play well-known tunes, as well as composing their own music.

The children spoke positively to Mrs. Brady:

It’s fun because you learn different music.
I like being a DJ and choosing and mixing my own songs.
I like learning how to play songs and also making up my own music.
I learnt how to play ‘We Will Rock You’ this week.
Playing music every week makes me feel very happy.

Music Recital

We had a very enjoyable recital last week, where we were entertained by some very talented musicians. We enjoyed the music of pianists, guitarists and singers. The programme was very varied and included own compositions, melodic minor scales and titles such as ‘Angel Fish’, ‘Train Ride’, ‘The Magic Man’, ‘Summer Fair’ and ‘Something in the Orange.’

Mrs. Brady would like to say a big thank you and well done to all the children who performed for us. It was a really lovely afternoon.

End of Term Talent!

Mrs. Brady would like to say well done to the children for learning how to play the glockenspiel this term and also to those children who performed in our musical recital!

Music Therapy

The children had lots of fun at Music Therapy tonight. There were different stations to visit to see what area they enjoyed the most. Lots of progress has been since they started! Mrs Smith even came to have a look what we were doing.

Year 3 – Jumbie Jams

The children were really excited as the steel drums (Jumbie Jams) have arrived and we had a chance to try them out. The children tried to play a scale of notes using 3 different skills – single notes, walking (using one beater then another) and rolling. Miss Perrin was really impressed with how quickly they picked this up.

Year 3 - Being Musicians

The children were really excited having the chance to show off their skills in playing Djembe drums. They were able to follow rhythms and use 'call and response' skills. The parents really enjoyed joining in. Now we have mastered these we are moving onto learning to play steel drums. How exciting!

KS1 Singing Festival 2023

Pumpkin Class had a wonderful time performing at Grimsby Auditorium for the Key Stage One Singing Festival. They sang songs in a large choir with children from lot of other local schools. The performance was led by music director Steve Roberts and his band of professional musicians.

T- It was amazing to see the drummer and all the other musicians.

V- I just loved singing all the songs.

G- It was fun to sing in a big choir.

H- My parents came to watch. I think they enjoyed singing Sid the Crocodile too.

T- We were at the front of the stage, so everyone could see us.

R- Mrs. Brady taught us all the songs, so we all knew them very well.

L- I liked singing.

Year 3 Music

Year 3 enjoyed their first viola lesson with Mrs. Brady.

They learnt how to handle the instrument carefully and the names of different parts of the viola and bow. They had lots of fun exploring their violas and making some interesting sounds!

Year 3 – Djembe

The children have been really excited as we have started to learn how to play the Djembe. Djembes are originally from Africa.

Drums have been in use since early caveman days as a form of communication and entertainment. We say words to help us remember the patterns so if you hear your children talking about ‘cold fish fingers’, ‘chicken & chips’ and ‘macaroni’ now you’ll know why!!!

Year 5 and 6 Christmas Carol Service 🌲

A magical evening for our Carol service with our year 5 and 6 pupils! Wonderful singing and performances celebrating Christmas and Peace. Thank you to all for joining us in our Carol singing- we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

A Magical Christmas Performance!

Well done to everyone in Pumpkin Class for their lovely Christmas nativity play. They told the story of the nativity beautifully. Everyone sang well, danced enthusiastically and the acting and the speaking were amazing too. Many thanks to all the parents and carers for organising such wonderful costumes.

Caistor Lions Victorian Craft Market

Year 2 and 3 children enjoyed performing together on the stage at Caistor Town Hall on Sunday 20th November. They performed a wide repertoire of Christmas songs for their parents, family members, friends and community members. It was lovely to see their excited faces and hear their beautiful singing. They certainly brought lots of Christmas cheer to all! Well done to everyone who took part.

A- I enjoyed singing on a big stage. It was exciting when the curtains opened.

V- We had lots of fun and even played some jingle bells.

E- My mum said she’d really enjoyed it and she said well done to everyone.

H- I liked all the catchy tunes, like Jingle Bell Rock. S- We all looked nice in our Christmas clothes.

J- The audience all clapped and cheered. I think they loved it.

S- I think the people were surprised when we finished with a sign language song.

G- I would like to go back and sing again next year!

Year 3 - Feeling that Calypso Beat

Now that we have mastered the Djembe we have moved onto tuned instruments - the steel drums!! This was our first lesson with the steel drums. We learnt how to set them up and get a feel for them, they sound so great. We even managed to try a song. Watch out for more posts as we get better jammin' to the Caribbean beat.

Djembe Drumming

Juniper class are learning how to play the Djembes and have been focusing on rhythms and tempo, ensuring they repeat the rhythm and keep in time.

KS1 Singing Festival

Pumpkin Class enjoyed taking part in the singing festival at Grimsby Auditorium with hundreds of children from other schools. They sang some great feel good songs.

J- I liked listening to the band. They jazzed up our songs.

E- I liked singing and my favourite song was 'Good to Be Me.'

W- I put in a lot of effort today and now I am very tired!

J- I sang at the front, in a small group. It was like a choir.

M- I was excited to be singing in a small group at the front.

C- The lights were shining on me when I was singing 'A Million Dreams.' I loved it!

L- One of our songs was all about Fairtrade food. Fairtrade is all about farmers being paid properly for the food that they grow.

D- I really liked the song 'Plastic Soup' because it was all about the sea having too much plastic in it.

K- I couldn't believe how many children were all singing today. It was amazing.

E- I think my mum and dad enjoyed the concert.

H- The audience was massive. I liked it when they all joined in with the actions. Mrs. Brady- Well done to everyone. You all sang so well and your behaviour and concentration throughout the whole day was excellent!

African Drums

To go with our English text foundation have been having a go at making their very own African Drums this afternoon. We made our drums by using a yoghurt pot, paper and an elastic band. Here are some of our drums we created!

The Leopard’s Drum

Our current story, The Leopard’s Drum, is really exciting. It is an African story with a large African drum as a centre piece.

We have been looking at the drum, describing and exploring it, as well as enjoying playing it ourselves. We also listened to professionals playing the drums and singing. It has been great fun.

Djembe

The children are really enjoying playing on the drums and are getting really good at repeating the patterns. We hope you enjoy the clip, it was kindly recorded by a child as I was busy keeping the beat.

When civil rights, history & music combine with art

In music we have listened to a piece of music by The Beatles called ‘Blackbird’. When we investigated further we discovered that Paul McCartney created this piece of music after he learnt about the struggles of civil rights for black people in America. We researched further into how people of colour were treat in history including slavery in America. We looked at the piece of music again to further understand the music then we created a piece of art to accompany this track.

Here is the link if you would like to listen to this poignant piece of music while you enjoy our art - Blackbird

MAPAS Red Nose Day Concert

To help celebrate Red Nose Day MAPAS organised a virtual concert for the children to see and enjoy. It was strange seeing the orchestra socially distanced but it didn’t change the sound or the experience. The orchestra played well know songs that the children could enjoy from films & popular games. Some children liked to play guess the song, some wanted to stand and move with the music and other just wanted to sit and enjoy the sound. What a lovely treat.

It’s Friday so “Don’t Worry about a thing”

Today was our last day of ‘school lockdown’ so we decided to make decorations to welcome everyone back to Poppy Class. MAPAS had organised a Makaton lesson based on Bob Marley’s “Don’t work about a thing” . The children really enjoyed the song and it’s lyrics, some decided to get up and enjoy the groove with a dance. Today was a day to celebrate….the last day being separated from each other and the class coming together as one.

Samba!!

In our music lesson we watched a MAPAS video about Samba percussion. It showed clips for the children at home so that they could make different musical instruments and join in the fun. The children had lots of fun and it was really tricky as they were playing 3 different rhythms at the same time. Samba, Samba, we love the Samba!!!!