Music and Performance Handbook

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Table of Contents Welcome from the Director of Music ................................................................................................ 3  The National Curriculum for Music ................................................................................................... 4  The Aims of learning Music at The British School of Tashkent ........................................................ 5  How we teach Music in EYFS ........................................................................................................... 5  How we teach Music in Primary ....................................................................................................... 6  How we teach Music in Secondary .................................................................................................. 6  Instrumental Programmes ................................................................................................................ 8  Performance Opportunities .............................................................................................................. 9  International Choir Trip ................................................................................................................... 13  

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Welcome from the Director of Music Since arriving at The British School of Tashkent in January 2014, I have been involved in building a Music Department that aims to provide the best musical education we can offer your children. Pupils at the school already enjoyed a weekly Music lesson, singing groups, and termly shows. However the Music department was very small with few resources. It has been a very exciting journey taking a plough to this ground and sowing lots of seeds, which is now beginning to grow into quite a tree! In 2014 we added ten keyboards to the Music Department and established a successful choir. The first BST idol competition was launched in February 2014, which was met with a lot of excitement and a rigorous audition process. By June 2014 the dream of a singing school was becoming to come true, as the whole of Key Stage 2 presented a wonderful and unforgettable performance of ‘Cinderella Rockerfella’. Since then, as the school has continued to undergo rapid expansion, the Music Department has spread its wings into several different rooms catering for both theory and practical lessons. We have added recorders, flutes, guitars, violins, and a drum kit to the department, and the list continues to grow. By May 2015 a full Primary Instrumental Programme was launched, with several specialist tutors employed by the school, to deliver quality instrumental tuition to individuals and small groups. It has been a delight and a marathon establishing this Music Department. Some of the greatest highlights for me have been the candle-lit Christmas carol concert with our oldest pupils, the BSF Choir trip to Sao Paulo, and the many shows which saw some of the quietest students blossom into confident performers. I look forward to the continued growth and fruit this year, as we celebrate your children’s musical achievements together. Yours Sincerely, Miss Naomi Aves Director of Music

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The National Curriculum for Music Music is integral to every culture across the globe and embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to a wide range of Music. Adapted/ Taken from the National Curriculum Document: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239037/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Music.pdf © Crown copyright 2013

     

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The Aims of learning Music at The British School of Tashkent The National Curriculum for Music aims to ensure that all pupils 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. Pupils will learn to sing and use their voices in different ways. They will create and compose music on their own and with others, including the use of technology in the creative process. They will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, to progress to the next level of musical excellence. Over time, they will understand and explore how music is created, produced, and communicated, by developing their knowledge of the key musical elements: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations. The aim of the Music Department at The British School of Tashkent is to help equip and enable pupils to appreciate, understand and engage with a wide range of musics. They will be given many opportunities to compose, improvise, listen, perform and critically engage with music in meaningful and purposeful ways. Each child is provided with appropriate support and challenge to enable them to develop their skills in a safe and stimulating environment. Over time they will learn and develop a wide range of transferable skills including social skills, analytical skills, and co-ordination skills. They will grow in confidence and develop their creativity through a multitude of activities and performance opportunities. How we teach Music in EYFS Music in EYFS enables pupils to develop their creative and listening skills through stimulating activities, and exploration. They will develop their ability to respond to music, handle instruments, as well as their co-ordination skills through playing and dancing. They will learn to listen, engage with, and sing simple songs which is vital to the early development of language skills.

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How we teach Music in Primary Music across the Primary school is designed to show clear progression as pupils become increasingly sensitive and skilled musicians. At Key Stage 1 pupils are exposed to a variety of music and are encouraged to engage critically with the music. They will develop their ability to use musical language as they listen to and describe what they hear. Through musical games and performance activities they will develop their ability to recognise and identify the pulse, including the ability to perform rhythms. They will sing together, using their voice in different ways, and develop their singing voice. At Key Stage 2, pupils are encouraged to become sensitive musicians as their musical journey continues from this firm foundation. Pupils will learn to appreciate and listen critically to music, use musical vocabulary, and develop their creative skills. They will sing together, developing a good sense of intonation as they listen and respond to music. They will perform music on a range of different instruments in solo and group contexts. Pupils in Upper Key Stage 2 are provided with a second Music lesson a week where they will study how to play a musical instrument in small groups. This is the Primary Instrumental Programme (see below) which provides further opportunities to develop instrumental and ensemble skills. Pupils will be introduced to a more formal education of music theory to prepare them for the next stage.

How we teach Music in Secondary In KS3, pupils are taught Music in preparation for iGCSE Music (which becomes an optional subject after Year 9). Pupils consolidate and develop their musical skills through a holistic and integrated approach to teaching and learning: combining listening and appraising, performance and composition skills.

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They will study a wide range of musics from across time and place, focusing on analytical skills and contextual understanding. Music should primarily be experienced and appreciated, but each pupil is then challenged to understand the music from the inside out. Pupils will also learn to take greater responsibility for their own learning, developing their ability to improve their own work through target setting and evaluations.

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Instrumental Programmes Additional music opportunities - PIPs and SIPs The Primary and Secondary Instrumental Programme (PIPs and SIPs) is part of the wider Music Enrichment Programme. All pupils from Years 5 to 8 have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument with a specialist tutor, once a week. This tuition takes place in small groups. Pupils will learn about their chosen instrument, develop correct playing techniques and posture, expand their understanding of music theory, and build a repertoire that will ultimately lead to performances. A key aspect of this programme is developing their ensemble skills.

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Individual Music Programme (IMPs) The Individual Music Programme (IMPs) is the school wide provision of private instrumental lessons with a specialist tutor. These lessons are 30 minutes long, on a one-to-one basis, outside of core subject areas. Lessons are paid for in advance on a termly basis.

Performance Opportunities Key Stage Shows Throughout the school year, pupils will have numerous opportunities to perform in front of an audience. This is a time when they will showcase their learning, developing their stage presence and confidence. Each Key Stage will have the opportunity to work together to produce a musical-drama based production. These are large events in the musical calendar, which require a lot of teamwork and concentration. Main roles are by audition, which is a rigorous selection process for children who wish to stretch themselves in acting and singing on stage. Every child is given opportunity to sign up for auditions, which they must be prepared for. Selection for main roles is based on their competence, skill, potential, behaviour, and attitude to learning.

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Class Assemblies and Phase Assemblies Pupils will have other opportunities to perform in front of their peers during assemblies. This is also a time when the school will celebrate musical achievements of pupils. External exams and competition results are warmly celebrated, providing we are notified in advance. BST Talent Show There is also opportunity for pupils to audition for a chance to compete in the school’s talent show, BST idol. Launched in February 2014, BST idol is a very popular competition, which is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to showcase their talent. Pupils should prepare carefully for auditions to earn a place in the final competition. In the finals, pupils are judged by external guests, as they compete for the prized trophy.

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International Choir Trip Another extremely exciting event in the Music calendar is the BSF Choir Trip. In 2015, BST took five choir members to Sao Paulo, Brazil to join with other schools in the British School’s Foundation. During an intensive week, pupils from all over the world come together to work as a team. They experience new cultures, with host families looking after them during their stay. They go on team building exercises, make new friends, and attend a series of workshops to develop their musical skills. The entire event culminates in a wonderful performance from a united BSF choir and band. This is an unforgettable experience which is offered to dedicated members of the BST Choir.

In addition to Choir, the Music Department is now offering a Rock Band ASA by invitation only to pupils from Secondary. As a progression from SIPs, pupils will develop their ensemble work in a Rock Band to perform and compete locally. This will also prepare them for iGCSE Music in the future. As the Music Department and School continues to expand, we are beginning to form stronger links with the local community and other schools. As a result there will be an increasing number of opportunities to perform at local events and competitions, as well as international ones. Students will also be taken on educational trips to local instrument museums and concerts as part of their course.

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