At West Moors Middle School, all pupils receive one music lesson per week as part of our core curriculum. Music is a vital subject that nurtures creativity, enhances concentration and memory, develops problem-solving and reasoning skills, and supports emotional expression. It also promotes confidence, quick thinking through improvisation, and overall well-being.

Why Music Matters

Music education develops key life skills, including:

• Creative thinking and expression

• Improved concentration and memory

• Higher-level reasoning and problem-solving

• Boosted self-esteem and emotional intelligence

• Collaboration and teamwork through ensemble performance

• Language development through rhythm, phrasing, and pitch

• Mathematical understanding through rhythm and structure (fractions, ratios, and proportions)

Our Vision

We aim to inspire all pupils to explore their musical creativity through performing, composing, and analysing a broad range of musical genres. Our curriculum encourages teamwork and collaboration, especially in ensemble work, while also fostering the discipline and confidence needed for solo performance. Pupils will develop their technical vocabulary and apply it when listening to and discussing music from different times, places, and styles. Most importantly, we want pupils to appreciate the emotional power and cultural richness of music.

Music Curriculum Overview

Our progressive curriculum introduces students to diverse musical experiences each year:

• Year 5 – Ukulele playing, singing, world music appreciation, and introductory composition.

• Year 6 – Folk music performance and composition, video game music creation, and an introduction to popular music structures.

• Year 7 – Samba drumming, mambo, early classical music, and the blues.

• Year 8 – Chord progressions, creating 4-chord songs, programme music, and reggae.

These topics introduce foundational skills that prepare pupils for music study at GCSE level and beyond.

Music Technology

We enhance music learning with YuStudio (via Charanga), an accessible online platform that builds music production skills and serves as an excellent foundation for advanced software like Logic Pro or Cubase, commonly used in the music industry.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Pupils are encouraged to deepen their musical interests by joining our school band or choir—both free to join. These groups explore a wide range of musical styles and perform regularly in concerts and school events.

Instrumental Lessons

We offer additional music tuition during the school day in:

• Percussion (Drums)

• Piano

• Guitar

• Singing

If you would like your child to take up instrumental lessons, please contact the school office for more details on how to sign up.