It is a privilege to be able to listen to and enjoy the music making of the many exceptionally musically talented students we have here at Barrow Hedges. However, music is certainly not only for these children. It is for each and every child and strengthens many areas of learning, from concentration and attention through to building self-esteem, confidence and encouraging strong interpersonal skills.

In Year 4, every child at Barrow Hedges learns either the violin or the cello through our participation in 'Wider Opportunities'. In Year 3, every child learns to play the djembe drums in the Summer Term. This links briliantly with their theme 'Tribal Tales' but most importantly, gives children an excellent taster of learning to play an instrument in a group setting. 

At the end of the year many are given the opportunity to perform to an audience either at Fairfield Halls or at our own Summer Concert. During this time, many of these children really learn to appreciate learning to play a musical instrument, so continue learning in Year 5; others opt to begin learning a new instrument at school, such as the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, drums, keyboard, piano or guitar.

At Barrow Hedges, we have weekly collaborative singing assembles which provide all children with a bank of songs that the whole school knows, providing a sense of community, identity and belonging for the children. In addition to this, we hold a number of after-school music clubs, including Infant Choir, Junior Choir and Recorder Club. Children who attend these are able to show how committed and enthusiastic they are by performing at our concerts throughout the year, which everybody thoroughly enjoys. The strong musical current flowing through the school has worked wonders in encouraging staff, which is evident from our ‘Staff Choir’. We take great enjoyment in rehearsing for concerts and performing to children and parents!

Mrs R Pericleous (KS2) and Mr J Pearce (KS1) are the Music Subject Leaders.