“Where words fail, music speaks”
Hans Christian Anderson

At Holy Trinity School, we know how important Music is to the overall, holistic well-being of children. It develops language skills, builds up confidence, self-esteem and teamwork skills as well as promoting a love of listening, performing and composing music in a range of styles and genres. We understand that Music is for all. It has a rare and unique ability to bring people together; music making can make a whole class, school and community feel connected to others and part of something bigger.

In an era where our children’s mental health is at an all-time fragility, “Music is the shorthand of emotion” (Leo Tolstoy). In a society where there can seem to be so much hostility and bullying, “Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” (Sarah Dessen).

At Holy Trinity School, we have a bespoke, enriched music curriculum, which responds to the interests and needs of cohorts/individuals. Through the teaching of music, we can provide life experience and a breadth of skills which can be applied in later life e.g. endurance, perseverance, resilience. Music can help promote good mental health and enable children to contribute to the community. It fosters a sense of belonging and builds cultural capital by promoting a broad range of future career opportunities. Music at Holy Trinity School lends itself easily to valuing, respecting and challenging each child, regardless of race, gender, religion, social background, culture or disability.

Curriculum enrichment
There are regular opportunities to perform within the classroom, the school and wider community. Professional musicians visit the school, trips are made to musical places of interest (Edward Elgar’s birthplace.) Prep and Senior Choirs are offered, as well as a recorder group and orchestra. Peripatetic music teachers also attend to deliver lessons in violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, piano/keyboard, guitar, ukulele, trumpet, singing and percussion.

In Key Stage 1, we focus on practical music making and starting to learn about the interrelated dimensions of music, through singing and action songs, and playing the glockenspiel. Children have the opportunity to write their own rhythm compositions and perform musical stories. They have opportunities to respond to music through singing, moving, playing and creating.

In Key Stage 2, the music making previously learned is refined and developed, with an emphasis on improvisation and composition. Children start to learn the ocarina and then the recorder. There are opportunities for the children to join the choir and perform in the Young Voices concert as well as local performances and competitions in the community.