Music

2022-2023

We currently have places available for children to learn a woodwind instrument.

Please contact Miss Cai at teacher@stedward.bham.sch.uk should you wish your child to start lessons. Please be aware that there is an ongoing charge for these lessons. 

2021-2022

Academic Year 2021-2022

All children who have returned their request forms to learn an instrument in May have been allocated time slots now and lessons will begin the week of the 13th September. A time table will be made available as soon as possible.

Mrs Bettam

Our Music Curriculum

At Saint Edward’s Catholic Primary School, Music lessons are catered to meet the individual needs of all the children in our care, developing a creative approach to learning, which inspires and engages their love of music.

Music is a powerful and unique form of communication, that can change and impact the way children feel, think and act. We believe that creating a passion for the teaching of Music helps the body and mind work together.

Through the Music lessons we follow, our aim is for the children to develop their understanding, make musical judgements, apply their new learning, develop their aural memory, express themselves physically and emotionally, and through discussion, create their own musical ideas. The children not only learn about music, they become musicians who are able to share and perform using their new skills. They are encouraged to take ownership of the songs they sing, the music they play and to become leaders who share their enthusiasm with all.

Our passion for music is developed through exciting opportunities for all including;- singing with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, performing with the largest choirs at Young Voices and visiting musicians performing to the children in school. Opportunities are created for children, through our close links with the Birmingham Music Service, to develop their gifts and talents, and to become life-long lovers of Music.

Year 5 - We say a huge ’well done’ to Lucas in 5MT for not only passing his recorder exam, but receiving a distinction for his efforts! We’re immensely proud of him. 

Whole Class Instrument Lessons In Year 3

This term, Year 3 have been learning how to play the recorder. We have been trying SO hard to learn the first few notes of B, A and G and can now play a few tunes.

Year 3 have been showing us their developing piano talents. Well done Lucy H, Ivy and Rachael…you’re WAY better than Mrs Bettam😊

Music in Reception

In Reception we love making our own music outside. We use the instruments to create music for our friends to dance to. We are being to notice when our music is fast or slow.

Young Voices Choir

Every year I lead our school choir in preparation for some wonderful events. Usually at this time of year we would be preparing for Young Voices Concert in January. However, we are unable to sing indoors at the moment, or be in large groups, and as a result, Young Voices Concert has been postphoned until June 25th  2021.If you would like to join choir please follow the link below to log into the Young Voices homepage and practise learning all the songs and dances at home, until we can sing again in school.

www.youngvoices.co.uk

The Parent Password is ;- YV2021

If you need any further help, please email Mrs Bettam using the year 3 email address. 

year3@stedward.bham.sch.uk

Would you like to learn an instrument next year?

Normally at this time of year, the music teachers come around our classrooms and show us their instruments, how they are played and what they sound like. As this isn't possible, Services For Education have created videos to develop our understanding.

Please log onto their site sfeonline.co.uk using the following details to learn more.

Username: stedward Password: PyGmT6q2

Enjoy!

Mrs Bettam

Exciting Opportunity For All Budding Singers

Services for Education warmly invites student singers to join a 'Scratch Choir' to perform in their VIVA VOCAL EVENT on Sunday 1st March at Bradshaw Concert Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. 

Singers aged 10-18 from across the city are invited to attend the event.

The choir will come together on the day of the concert, then perform the songs they have learnt in the afternoon in an evening performance.

They will be working on 3 contemporary/pop/musical theatre songs to perform with a live band.

To register for the event an online form must be completed by a parent before Friday 21st February.

https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/register-for-viva-vocal-2020

Should you need any further information, please contact Mrs Bettam as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.,

National Curriculum Music (2014)

Through the Musical School programme we follow in school, the children develop their understanding, make musical judgements, apply their new learning, develop their aural memory, express themselves physically, emotionally and through discussion and create their own musical ideas.

The children not only learn about music; they become musicians who are able to share and perform using their new skills.

There are 3 main resource areas: Units of Work, themed Topic songs and activities and instrumental Courses. The Units of Work are the main focal point for the music curriculum whilst the Topics and Courses provide a wealth of extension, enhancement and cross-curricular possibilities and experiences.

The activities and games that we play cover the musical dimensions, (formerly elements – pulse, rhythm, pitch etc) through singing and playing instruments, listening and creating music – all intrinsically linked through a central song or piece.

YOUNG VOICES 2019

Following on from months of rehearsals every Friday night, our choir attended the Young Voices Concert at Resorts World Arena on Wednesday 23rd January. It was an amazing night and the children's singing was absolutely fantastic! We couldn't have asked for more!

The day began with us leaving school at 1pm, the excited buzz on the coach was almost touchable! As soon as we arrived, the rehearsals began. Over 6,000 children all singing their hearts out and dancing to the beat of so many songs. Little did they know just how much the excitement would build till the performance!

Before we knew it, it was time for the parents to arrive...it was so difficult trying to spot them in the enormous arena, but several had binoculars and they told us that we were spotted above our school banner. The lights dimmed, the announcements were made and the best night of our lives began! Songs such as The Greatest Showman Medley, Moana Mashup and We Are The World by Michael Jackson rang out across the air. We were treated to amazing guest artists such as Sharlene Hector (The Soul Family Sunday Band), Beau Dermott (Britain's Got Talent Golden Buzzer Winner) and Tony Hadley (lead singer from Spandau Ballet...and so much more)  Choreographer Andy Instone along with Urban Stride dance crew had us all up and dancing the night away.

It was such a fantastic night and the children from St Edward's showed everyone just what a talented group they were. It has been an absolute honour working with you all.

Looking forward to our next adventure as a choir.

Summer Gala At Symphony Hall

Calling all budding singers. Mrs Bettam is currently looking to reinstate her Symphony Hall Choir after the Easter Holidays. We will soon begin learning new songs ready  for our concert in the last few weeks of school this year.

Last year, the concert  was a beautiful way to close the school term and we were amazed by the fantastic Symphony Orchestra who accompanied us in some of our songs. Children Y3-6 are welcome to join.

Sacramental Choir

We have begun a wonderful journey of praise through our new Year 4/5 choir. Over 30 children have volunteered to help enhance our singing in Masses and especially in support of our children who are to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation this year. This is a new initiative which we hope you agree is having a powerful effect on our praise to God each week. Year 3 and Year 6 are grateful for their support.

Young Voices

We have a great choir in school that is already hard at work preparing for the Young Voices concert on January 10th 2018. The repertoire is extremely varied and we are having great fun putting some very funky dance moves to the tunes. We hope you all have a wonderful time if you get the opportunity to join us for the final concert.

YOUNG VOICES REPORT

by OSCAR and RHIANNON

On Wednesday 10th January, the St.Edward's choir went to the Young Voices Concert at the Genting Arena. 

When we got to the school, the choir gathered in the ICT suite, we then got on the coach and began our half hour journey. Once we arrived at the arena, we were mesmerised! There were over 6,000 children ready to sing there, all in their Young Voices T-shirts.

Once we were all ready we started to sing. We practised the songs and actions with our principal conductor, David Lawrence. It took 2 hours, but the time passed quickly and we knew all the songs and actions. We had some dinner at 5pm and then, finally, it was time for the concert.

When the gates opened to let the audience in, it was amazing! The sheer amount of people was overwhelming! Then the music started up. The band played 'Symphony' and were accompanied by the Urban Strides Dance Group. The excitement was through the roof! Everybody waved their twinkling torches and had a whale of a time!

The songs we sang together were;-

Name That Toon   

Africa

Why We Sing

Extraordinary

Pop Goes The Classics

Hakuna Matata

Kyrie Eleison

Anytime You Need A Friend

You're In The Band

Stevie Wonderland

and The Pop Melody

We got shedloads of applause!

All in all it was a night to remember forever!

Thank you to Mrs Bettam, Mrs Watkins, Mrs Coyne and Mrs Graham.

Summer Extravaganza

It has been a wonderful few weeks filled with Music here at Saint Edward's! For many months now our classrooms have been filled with a variety of song and musical pieces. 

We began with our Music Evening last Tuesday when over 100 pupils ranging in age from Reception Class up to Year 6, performed for an audience filed with friends and family. Violins, cellos, accordions, recorders, flutes, pianos and the amazing steel pans were all played with great skill and enthusiasm.  It also provided us the opportunity to say a fond farewell to Mr Beilby who has been our Violin teacher for over 28 years. 

This week our focus shifts completely from a sedate musical evening, to the wonderful musical Oliver! The children of Year 6 have been putting all the energy into rehearsals for this amazing experience and we can safely say that we have some extremely talented children in our school! 

Next week, the final week of term, sees us participating in two musical experiences.

On Tuesday 20 children from Year 6 will be entertaining the public with their Steel Pan skills and amazing singing in a Musical Celebration at Bishop Challoner. Students from Year 11 have written their own song especially for us to learn and we will be joining 4 other primary schools from our cluster group.

Finally, on the last day of term, 40 children from Year 5, 4 and 3 will be participating in a truly amazing experience...they have been invited to sing a melody of songs at Birmingham Symphony Hall along with the Symphony Orchestra, a Jazz Band and other fabulous musicians from across the Midlands! The children have been working so hard to prepare for this gala and have secretly been adding dance moves to their wonderful voices. 

We all hope that you have been enjoying our special talents both vocally and musically this year and we have already booked our date for the Young Voices Concert on the 10th January next year.  Mrs Bettam