Music
Music and Performing Arts is at the heart of Grimsdell.
Our commitment is to foster a profound love for music and Performing Arts while creating an immersive and enriching experience for each student. We sing in class, between activities, when we are lining up and when we leave assembly. Music is played each morning as the children enter school expanding the children’s music repertoire.
Under the guidance of our devoted specialist music teachers, every child at Grimsdell enjoys a weekly music lesson, laying the foundation for a comprehensive musical education. Complementing these lessons are our year group singing sessions, where students come together as a year group to sing and rehearse for various events and productions.
Our commitment to music extends beyond the structured classroom setting. Music seamlessly integrates into children's task time, providing an additional session intricately linked to their current academic themes. This unique approach transforms the learning of music into a pleasurable experience, allowing students to explore connections between different areas of knowledge.
The Kodaly and Dalcroze Methods
At Grimsdell, we embrace the Kodaly and Dalcroze methods, two pillars of our music education philosophy. Kodaly's method introduces the enchanting world of relative solfa, using straightforward language to explore and understand musical structure. Dalcroze's 'Eurythmics' method elevates rhythm education, incorporating gestures and movement to engage the entire being — body, heart, and mind. This interactive approach ensures that learning music becomes a multisensory journey, creating expressive musicians fully immersed in the creative process.
Our inclusive approach makes music education accessible to everyone, whether they are beginners or already learning an instrument. Engaging activities like 'singing circles' allow students to explore pulse, rhythm, call-and-response songs, and create accompaniments using percussion instruments. This hands-on approach enhances their ability to read and understand rhythmic notation, while developing singing and performance skills through a diverse repertoire, including singing in parts and rounds.
We also embed PSHE values through Music with an initiate called ‘Musical Dots’. Their chart-quality music with themes for children is led by lovable musical characters whose names and personalities teach musical terminology and unlock potential in all personality types.
The Arts
For those with a passion for singing, the Toffee Bear Choir awaits. Open to all children in Years 1 and 2 who love to sing, this choir provides numerous performance opportunities throughout the year, adding an extra layer of excitement to their musical journey.
At Grimsdell, our commitment to the arts takes centre stage with our annual whole-school Christmas production performed in The Large at MHS. The show is led by Year 2, but is a collaborative experience that unites all students, including those in nursery, fostering a unique whole-school experience that encourages teamwork and mutual inspiration.
Throughout the year, Year 1 seizes the spotlight in the Spring Term, presenting their own topic-based production complete with full costumes, choreography, and singing. Following suit, Reception students shine in the Summer Term, relishing their opportunity to showcase their creativity in their own performance.
