Music is taught as a whole class subject in accordance with the National Curriculum requirements. As part of this, all pupils in Year 3 and 4  learn to play recorder and pupils in years 5 and 6 are taught to play brass instruments through the Suffolk County Council Wider Opps Music scheme.

All pupils from Year 1- 4 have music lessons that follow the Collins Music Express scheme of work. This involves learning to follow and copy rhythms, and begin to improvise. They also learn about dynamics, pitch and timbre. Additionally, pupils in Years 3 and 4 also learn basic notation and improvisation as part of their recorder lessons. All Pupils in years 5 and 6 also learn about improvisation and the history/cultural origins of different types of music during their Wider Opps Music Lessons and through focus days and topic based links.

Instruments and lessons for recorder and brass instrument tuition are provided free to parents. cello lessons are subsidised by 50% by the school in order to encourage participation. Pupils in receipt of pupil premium are entitled to free lessons. Details of payment can be obtained from the school office on request.

During their time at Wilby, pupils also get the chance to use technology to enhance their musical understanding and experience: using websites and apps such as 'Chrome-experiments' and 'Garageband' they are able to explore musical loops and composition.

Singing forms a core part of our daily collective worship and we have weekly singing/choir practice for all pupils from Reception Year upwards
In addition to this, SCC peripatetic music teachers provide individual tuition for pupils on cello.  Pupils who learn a musical instrument out of school are also encouraged to share their talents with an audience whenever possible (concerts, assemblies, musical celebration events). Pupils reach a high level of playing in all instrument and each year many enter for graded exams which are free through Suffolk County Council.

Pupils in Year 5 and 6 are also encouraged to join the SCC Wider Opps band which provides them with opportunities to play with children form other setting and to perform in front of wider audiences.

Each term the different year groups are engaged in producing a musical performance. In the Autumn term YR and Y1/2 perform a Christmas musical,  in the Summer Term our Y3-Y4 do a topic based musical followed, in the summer term, by musical production performed by Y5 and 6. In addition to, this we host an afternoon of Christmas Music featuring our brass groups, choirs and numerous opportunities to sing along! In the summer term, we celebrate the musical achievements of our pupils at our annual Music for a Summer's Evening. This very popular event provides an opportunity for our pupils to perform alongside past pupils and invited professional performers. 

Pupils also have many opportunities to perform in different venues, not least of all on the stage at the Snape Maltings Concert hall in Aldeburgh. Our brass groups and choir also sing at a local nursing home and Dementia unit and perform at least once annually in a local store to raise money for the East Anglian Children's Hospice. We believe that events such as our music evenings organised to raise money for charity are essential elements of our pupils education here at Wilby school.

Roisin Wiseman - Music Lead