Redhill Junior And Infant School

Autumn 1 2022 : Happy (Neo Soul)

This term, Year 6 have been learning to appraise, perform and innovate the Neo Soul song 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams. We carried out lots of appraisals of similar songs on the theme of HAPPINESS. We then rehearsed and performed the song in chorus.

We also used stave music to play an accompaniment on glockenspiels. We learned how to read the notes A and G and how to read notes of different beats on the staff/stave. 

Autumn 2 2022 : Classroom Jazz

This term, Year 6 have been learning to appraise, perform and innovate different pieces of jazz music. 

We revised what we learned about using symbols and the stave to read notation and played a simple accompaniment. During the bridge section, we innovated a simple improvisation, using the riffs and licks from the song. 

Spring 2023 : A New Year Carol (Urban Gospel)

This term, Year 6 have been learning to appraise, perform and sing A New Year Carol by Benjamin Britten. This linked through our creative curriculum to our topic, World War 2. 

We listened to the original and then compared the Urban Gospel version and then over several sessions, learned to perform it. We had to revise the term pitch and learn to pitch our voices as this song was quite high!

Spring 1 : You've Got a Friend

This term, Year 6 have been learning to appraise, compose and perform with 70s ballads and pop hits including those of Carole King, The Drifters, Little Eva and the Chiffons.

We played and then improvised using musical notation on the stave with the notes E, G, A, C or D. 

Summer 1 : Music and Me

This term, Year 6 focused on international and dicverse women in the music industry. They revised people such as Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday and appraised newer artists such as Anna Meredith. 

They used their techniques about music being a language to write a series of rap lyrics around a theme. We had some outstanding and thought provoking themes such as challenging racism, food, leavers and the difficulty of song writing!

For composition, children then created a backing track using the notes in the whole octave. They placed them on the stave and adjusted it before performing; they chose glocks are their instruments. 

Year 6 (2021-22)

Autumn 2: Into the Trenches

Learn the history of music hall music and perform ‘Pack up your Troubles’ in chorus.

This term, as part of their topic on World War 1, Year 6 explored the background and importance of music hall in the early 20th century. We appraised a variety of songs including "it's a Long Way to Tipperary" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning." We learned the lyrics to "Pack up your Troubles! and sang in chorus. 

We tried to control our breathing, posture and sound projection, singing with expression. We know now that mood can be changed with music and lyrics to certain songs.  Do you like it? 

Spring 1: World War 2

Read the sheet music for the National Anthem and play on tuned instruments. 

 This term, we celebrated both the Platinum Jubilee and the Queen's wartime work as a mechanic. We learned how to read notation on a stave or staff and used an app to play the National Anthem. 

We have also sent a letter to the Queen telling her about what we have been doing and wishing her well on her 70 years!

Summer 1: Titanic

Perform Wellerman and innovate and perform our own sea shanty

 As part of our work on the Titanic disaster, we learned the history of the sea shanty and the popularisation of them again on TikTok during the Covid 19 pandemic. We studied and performed Wellerman by Nathan Evans and then innovated our own.