The Structure of Music at JESS
Each child from Foundation One through to Year Three experiences two sessions of music per week. Students in years four, five and six have one class of Music weekly, for the duration of an hour.

Curriculum
The curriculum is wide and varied, teaching the children the key elements of music through performing, composing and listening activities and drawing on music from many different genres and cultures.

Foundation Stage
Children in the Foundation Stage have lots of fun! They learn key musical skills such as listening, playing instruments with control and exploring sounds. They are encouraged to respond creatively to a musical stimulus and thoroughly enjoy movement and singing.

Key Stage One
During Key Stage One children build on the skills that were introduced in the Foundation Stage. Children follow a comprehensive programme to develop their ongoing skills in music and explore rhythmic and melodic notation, pitch and listening. They have lots of opportunities to widen their experience of playing both pitched and unpitched percussion instruments. Their listening skills are extended and simple composition work is introduced. In year two every child learns the basics of recorder playing which serves as a great foundation for later instrumental work.

Key Stage Two
Children in Key Stage Two follow an extremely varied curriculum developing their understanding of musical concepts through experiencing music from different styles and cultures. They perform on a wide range of instruments, including recorders, steel pans, keyboards, xylophones, glockenspiel and ukuleles developing their understanding of musical theory and exploring their creative ideas. Key Stage Two students develop their skills through recording and appraising their work using ICT. They also are introduced to music software and are encouraged to experiment with composition using these tools.

ICT
Both music teaching rooms are equipped with interactive white boards and Apple Mac computers, which allow students to explore and organise a variety of sounds to create different compositions. Children are also able to use a variety of electric instruments including guitars and keyboards as well as singing regularly through the PA system. Software such as Garage Band, Groovy Music and Sibelius are incorporated into classroom practice to enhance musical understanding.

Music Groups
Students can participate in a variety of Music Clubs including Choir, Folk Band, Orchestra, Wind Group, String Ensemble, Steel Pans and Rock Band. Throughout the year there are many school events where students can perform individually or as part of a group.

Partnership with Centre for Musical Arts and Piano Peripatetic Teachers
The Music Department works closely with instrumental teachers from the Centre of Musical Arts and the wider community. Students have the opportunity to receive individual or group tuition on a wide range of musical instruments including flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, violin, cello, piano and guitar, students are encouraged to sit an ABRSM exam in the final Term.