We believe that music is an important aspect of providing children with a well-rounded education. Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, help regulate emotions, improve energy levels and boost memory. Therefore we provide daily opportunities for our children to listen to and enjoy a variety of music. Every week we share a different piece of music with the children. This can be classical, rock, jazz, pop and music from a variety of ages and cultures – the list is endless! The children will listen to the music, think about how it makes them feel, talk about their likes and dislikes, find out about the composer or artist and the period of time it was written in and also discuss any interesting facts or features.
We hope our children’s lives will be richer for these experiences.
Spring 2 2023 – 24
Week 1 – The Beatles Hey Jude 1968
Spring 1 2023 – 24
World Music
Week 1 – Tinariwen – Sastanaqqam 2017
Week 2 – Oliver Mtukudzi Ft Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Meria
Week 3 – Buena Vista Social Club – Candela
Week 4 – Harmony Chinese Music Group
Week 5 – Mustafa Mustafa – A R Rahman
Week 6 – Tunka Tunka Tun – Daler Mehndi
Autumn 1 2023 – 24
Boy Bands
A Boy Band is loosley defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in theoir twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform love songs. Many boy bands dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances.
Week 1 – McFly, Colours in Her Hair 2004
Week 2 – Take That, Never Forget 1995
Week 3 – One Direction, What Makes you Beautiful 2011
Week 4 -The Beatles, Hey Jude 1968
Week 5 – Busted, Year 3000 2003
Week 6 – Boyz II Men, End of the Road 1991
Week 7 – Hanson, MMM Bop 1997
Autumn 1 2022 – Disco
What Is Disco?
Disco was a genre of uptempo dance music that reached peak popularity during the 1970s. This music was often played at nightclubs or “discotheques” and featured repetitive vocals and catchy, rhythmic beats provided by instruments like drum sets, synthesizers, and bass guitars.
At the height of disco, fans gathered in discotheques like Studio 54, GG’s Barnum Room, and Mudd Club to watch live acts and dance to disco mixes produced by in-house deejays. Popular disco acts included Donna Summer, The Village People, Gloria Gaynor, Kool & the Gang, the Bee Gees, and Rick James.
Week 1
Chic ‘Le Freak’ (1978)
Week 2
The Bee Gees – Staying Alive
Week 3
Boney M – Daddy Cool
Week 4
The Village People – YMCA
Week 5
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
Week 6
Donna Summer – I feel love
Week 7
Earth, Wind and Fire – September
Autumn 2 2022 – Pop
What Is Pop?
Pop music is an abbreviation of the word ‘popular. ‘ It’s a contemporary form of music that appeals to a very wide audience. It often includes a danceable tempo, easy to remember lyrics, and simple notation. Pop music is commonly found on mainstream radio stations and across a range of countries and cultures.
They have a good rhythm, a catchy melody, and are easy to remember and sing along to. They usually have a chorus that’s repeated several times and two or more verses.
Week 1
I should be so Lucky – Kylie Minogue 1987
Week 2
Take on me a-ha 1985
Week 3
Mamma Mia – Abba 1975
Week 4
Olly Murs – Dance with me tonight 2011
Week 5
Robbie Williams Candy 2012
Week 6
Happy Pharrell Williams 2013
Week 7
Slide – Goo Goo Dolls 1998
Spring 1 2023 – Rock N Roll
Rock ’n’ roll is a popular music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues (R&B), jazz, and country music with the addition of electric instruments. The genre is known for energetic performances, catchy melodies, and often insightful lyrics. Rock N Roll evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Week 1
Little Richard – Tutti Frutti 1956
Week 2
Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock 1957
Week 3
Bill Haley & his Comets – Rock Around the Clock 1955
Week 4
Buddy Holly – Peggy Sue 1957
Week 5
Wake up Little Susie – Everly Brothers 1957
Week 6
Roy Orbison – Pretty Women 1964
Spring 2 2022 – 23 Classical
The term classical music has several meanings. Many countries call their own traditional or ancient music classical music. However, in Western parts of the world people use the term classical music to refer to art music.
Art music, or classical music, is different from popular and folk music. Classical music is more complex. It is usually written down in a form that classical musicians can read off the page. Classical musicians do not frequently improvise. To improvise means to make up music while playing it.
Much of the earliest classical music was used in religious ceremonies. Later, nonreligious music became more popular. Musicians often performed classical music to entertain audiences in royal courts.
Classical music grew and changed rapidly from the late 1500s to the mid-1700s. The modern orchestra was formed during this time. Also, musicians created new types of classical music, such as opera. One of the greatest composers of this time was Johann Sebastian Bach.
Music experts call the time from about 1750 to 1820 the classical age. In this period, musicians developed a number of musical forms. One of them was the symphony, a long musical composition for an orchestra. Another was the string quartet, a musical composition for two violins, a viola, and a cello. Some important composers from the classical age are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Week 1
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” 1787
Week 2
Johann Pachelbel
“Canon in D” 1680 – 1690
Week 3
George Frideric Handel
“Messiah” 1741
Week 4
Antonio Vivaldi
“Four Seasons” 1723
Week 5
Edvard Grieg
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1,
“In the Hall of the Mountain King” 1875
Week 6
Claude Debussy.
“Clair de lune” 1905
Summer 1
Week 5
Colbie Caillat – Never Gonna Let You Down
Week 4
Count on Me – Bruno Mars
Week 3
Love can Build a Bridge – Westlife
Week 2
Labi Siffre – Something Inside so Strong
Week 1
Mariah Carey – Anytime you Need a Friend
Spring 2
Week 6
Raef – Ramadan is Here
Week 5
Bruno Mars – Count On Me
Week 4
Tim McGraw – Humble and Kind
Week 3
Gustav Holst – The Planets Mars
Week 2
John Denver – Thank God I’m a Country Boy
Week 1
Glen Campbell – Try a Little KIndness
Spring 1
Week 6
Etta James – At Last
Week 5
Take That – Shine
Week 1
Diana Ross and The Supremes – You can’t hurry love
Autumn 2
Week 7
Brenda lee – Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Week 3
Andy and the Odd Socks – One Kind Word
Week 1
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
Autumn 1
Week 7
Claude Debussy – Clair de Lune
Week 6
Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
Warner Bros. Records
Week 4
Eva Cassidy – Over The Rainbow
Week 3
Billy Ocean & The Young Voices Choir – Lovely Day
Week 2
A.R. Rahman – Jai Ho
Week 1
Sara Bareilles – Brave (Cover by One Voice Children’s Choir)
Justin Higuchi, Los Angeles, CC BY 2.0