Music

Subject Intent

‘Where words fail, music speaks’

Music and performing arts are uniquely positioned to bring together intellect and feeling, enabling personal expression, reflection and emotional development. As an integral part of our culture, past and present, music and the performing arts helps students to understand themselves, relate to others and develop their cultural understanding, forging important links between home, school and the wider world. Whilst music and the performing arts are valuable in their own right, the study of them can enhance so much more: teaching transferable skills to develop well-rounded students. 

At Derby Cathedral School, our music and the performing arts curriculum is challenging, inspiring and engaging, building resilient, curious, tenacious and independent learners. We do this by providing quality first teaching to each and every student, teaching each scheme of learning through performance, composition and appraising ensuring a comprehensive approach that really cements each student’s learning.  

At Derby Cathedral School, we value the diverse range of interests, abilities and backgrounds our students have, and we build upon these by broadening students’ experiences of different musical styles, genres and cultures, but also by developing their own ‘voice’ and opinions, whilst respecting and valuing the opinions and perspectives of others.  

The music specialism at Derby Cathedral School - along with mathematics - helps to support students’ cognitive development, teaching students how to think, explore and problem-solve. This is in addition to building students’ self-esteem and self-confidence through performance which in turn, increases students’ engagement in all lessons.  

Students have the opportunity to learn a range of musical instruments in the classroom, and this is supported by the Derbyshire Music Partnership, which provides peripatetic music lessons on a range of instruments.  We are proud of our fully-inclusive and relevant curriculum which is reviewed regularly to ensure it is personalised and meets the needs of all our students.  

The performing arts curriculum incorporates both dance and drama. In drama, students are given the opportunity to develop their understanding of da practitioners and performance styles through evaluating and performing a diverse collection of dramatic texts, which span a range of genres. Students have the opportunity to watch professional and amateur productions of plays and musicals, as well as having performance opportunities with Derby Theatre.  

The sequencing of the curriculum taught is underpinned by a carefully planned and ambitious progression in musical skills, knowledge and understanding in which the requirements of the National Curriculum are met. We begin in year 7 by building upon students’ experiences from key stage 2; by developing the use of the voice and student’s confidence in this - through unison and progressing to singing in harmony. Students develop their musical accuracy and fluency on a range of instruments, suited to their choice, which helps build tenacity and transferable learning. Additionally, students have the opportunity to develop their skills as not only solo performer, but also in ensemble groups, developing their understanding of the importance of fellowship and humility. Ultimately, the curriculum meets the needs of all our learners through rigorous assessment and feedback, practical teaching in which students actively learn through independent learning activities, and is supported by learning outside of the classroom through our extensive extra-curricular programme and opportunities to perform within the community. All performing arts subjects promote an overall appreciation of the arts, both inside and outside the curriculum, developing discipline, control, focus and giving students ‘a voice’.  

The music and performing arts departments are outward-facing, making links beyond the school community including the local community of Derby and the world of work and careers. Derby is a renowned centre of innovation in many sectors, and the creative arts is a burgeoning area. We believe our school should play an important part in developing the creative arts in Derby through opportunities to perform within the local community and experience live performances outside of the school context through our links with Derby Cathedral, Derby Theatre and Deda. (Derby and Derbyshire music partnership) 

Our careers education informs students of possible careers within the arts, which raises aspirations and provides opportunities for students to develop their skills and experiences in these fields. We are working closely with a number of local providers as well as our cultural educational partnership to access local and national opportunities.   Our work with our cultural partner (based at Derby Theatre) also provides opportunities for students to thrive in Derby city and to experience a variety of cultural experiences to develop their skills, life chances and fulfil their highest ambitions. Additionally, our students are engaging with pathways beyond key stage 4 and 5 through our collaboration with a number of universities. 

Finally, our music and performing arts team are constantly researching new developments and teaching strategies within music and the performing arts to ensure students at Derby Cathedral School receive the best possible arts experiences matching the ‘vibrancy’ of Derby as a city centre, promoting self-worth, confidence, resilience and understanding of the world around them through a cultural and creative eye.  

Music Long Term Plans