Infants

At Coopersale Hall School all children have many opportunities to learn about and to experience the performing arts. Curriculum music lessons and singing sessions are taught from Lower Kindergarten to Year 6 on a weekly basis. During these sessions children experience a range of music, drama and dance supported by multiple performances throughout the year. Year group singing sessions take place from Lower Kindergarten to Year 2 and lead to participation in the junior choir for all pupils in Years 3 to 6. These lessons include all the main aspects of music; listening, appraising, performance and composition and cover a broad spectrum of styles, history and genres.

Recorder is taught as part of the curriculum in Year 2 and is developed through the upper age groups. Weekly orchestra rehearsals include children who take instrumental tuition as well as those just keen to get involved.

Popular peripatetic tuition is available to pupils in Years 2 to 6 during the school day in piano, violin, flute, clarinet, guitar and voice.  Children are often entered in external ‘Grade’ exams and there is a high success rate.

By the end of Years 2 the pupils will be able to:

• Understand and control musical elements with percussion  and voice (Tempo, pitch, dynamics, duration)

• Play rhythms using percussion including African drumming

• Play up to three notes on the recorder and decode formal notation with help

• Understand graphic notation

• Sing in two parts 

Performance Opportunities

All children in all year groups put on at least two performances to parents throughout the school year. There are additional options for those wishing to perform more, either as  soloists or as part of an ensemble. Some of these include:

• Nativity Performances

• Performances to the elderly at Christmas

• Performances in the community including the Epping Christmas Market

• Picnic in the Park – an outdoor concert to parents

• Prize Giving

• Opportunities to perform to the school in assemblies throughout the year

Progress

Development is measured by end of unit assessments, observations and questioning. Reports are written by the specialist music teacher and all peripatetic staff.

Juniors

At Coopersale Hall School all children have many opportunities to learn about and to experience the performing arts. Curriculum music lessons and singing sessions are taught from Lower Kindergarten to Year 6 on a weekly basis. During these sessions children experience a range of music, drama and dance supported by multiple performances throughout the year.

All children sing during assemblies and everyone in KS1 and KS2 attend hymn practise each week.  In addition, there are many free music opportunities during the school day. In the Juniors there is the option to join the Years 3/4 or Years 5/6 recorder club. The junior choir is available for all pupils in Years 3 to 6. Weekly orchestra rehearsals include children who take instrumental tuition as well as those just keen to get involved.

Popular peripatetic tuition is available to pupils in Years 2 to 6 during the school day in piano, violin, flute, clarinet, guitar and voice.  Children are often entered in external ‘Grade’ exams and there is a high success rate.

By the end of Year 6 the pupils should be able to:

• Describe music in terms of emotion, sound colour and the musical elements

• Recognise the sounds of instruments from the symphony orchestra

• Control percussion instruments with accuracy

• Understand music in context e.g. Tudor Music, Jazz and Blues

• Sing in two and three parts with a quality of sound

• Compose and improvise in a group using voices and instruments

• Use ICT to create a sequenced soundscape

Performance Opportunities

All children in all year groups put on at least two performances to parents throughout the school year. There are additional options for those wishing to perform more, either as  soloists or as part of an ensemble. Some of these include:

• Tiddly Prom Concert

• Oak-Tree Group Music and Dance Festival (alternate years)

• Nativities

• Performances to the elderly at Christmas

• Performances in the community including the Epping Christmas Market

• Junior Summer production – a musical including all children in Years 3 to 6

• Picnic in the Park – an outdoor concert to parents

• Christmas Carol Concert

• Young Voices

• Opportunities to perform to the school in assemblies throughout the year

Progress

Development is measured by end of unit assessments, observations and questioning. Reports are written by the specialist music teacher and all peripatetic staff.

Seniors

Music

In Years 7 to 9 the pupils study about the history of music and gain a more in depth understanding of the musical elements. They can expect to understand tones and semi tones, sharps and flats, as well as various performance aspects.

We have an extensive range of individual and group private instrument lessons with qualified tutors and a senior mixed choir.  We encourage formal music grades and offer music theory classes after school hours to help any pupils interested in taking exams.

Drama

During Years 7 to 9 our pupils explore a variety of issues and ideas that relate to society. They work individually, in small groups and as a whole class to develop their skills, techniques and styles including mime, musical theatre, improvisation, scripts, Theatre in Education and slapstick. Older pupils learn about using costume, working behind the scenes and preparing for GCSE Drama if selected.

Pupils are aware of their National Curriculum levels and how to achieve the next grade. They verbally peer and self-assess and complete assessment sheets to reflect on how well they have done in group work, individual work and final performances.

Performance Opportunities

We give our pupils numerous opportunities to perform in front of small and large audiences. These include drama competitions and showcases, large scale productions, festival events and community performances.

Progress

Development is measured through half-termly assessments and verbal questioning. If a pupil feels unsure or confused, strategies are put in place to help the pupil and make them feel comfortable within the environment and the work provided.