How can I make a stand against the "chavvy" music at dd's school?

[fircone]

When ds was in the infants, the children sang a lot of songs and it sounded lovely. Now dd is there the music is on a downward spiral. They just sing along to (presumably teachers') old pop music tapes. At the last assembly the children mumbled dispiritedly to "Reach for the Sky" by SClub7, and at Christmas I ground my teeth as they half-heartedly muttered a bit of "Funky Town" (remember that one?!) and something by Annie Lennox. They came into the Christmas concert to "Fairytale of New York". You cheap lousy slut, anyone?

I'm not expecting a full production of "Nymphs and Shepherds" but this is getting ridiculous. It seems not just a shame but a failure not to encourage music.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can broach the subject? I am a governor, but I am not in the inner circle, and have to struggle to get my points raised. I need to put it diplomatically, rather than coming across as an outraged snob.

Op, you seem to be talking about assembly songs. Do you know what happens in music lessons?

Indeed. Assembly meets the criteria for NC music at KS1 in that children 'rehearse and perform with others' (1c).

But that's it. All other music would take place in music lessons, in the classroom.

There is a music and drama room at dd's school. It was being used as a store room and now the head has earmarked it for the Konfident Kids room. Whaaaat?!!!!!

A few people said it was a shame not to use the room as intended but the same excuse that there isn't room on the curriculum gets flung back.

As a governor, I am sure you are aware that your role should be as a critical friend. You have definitely got the critical sorted....

And just to throw the private v state thing into the mix, I think it's doing a disservice to our children to think it's acceptable to have them sing along (or not) to an old CD when down the road at St Ponce's the children are having decent music lessons.

If money were the problem, then ok, but when I constantly hear "constraints of the curriculum" I want to get the curriculum and stuff it somewhere... dark. Or preferably into an SClub7 CD case.

I agree, I was a bit to hear DD's friend (who goes to the local catholic primary!) telling me they were singing that Robbie Williams song about angels for their nativity play

We do have a wealth of musical tradition that should be part of the curriculum in all schools.

Have to say I'd be happier with Fairytale Of New York, sluts faggots and all, than Reach for the bloody Sky. Is a beautiful melody that draws on traditional music, and more importantly isn't manufactured commercialised pap.

Fircone, it has been pointed out to you more than once that what you are referring to are singing assemblies, NOT the music curriculum.

And? I have a dd, who reports what they sing. And assemblies and concerts are music, are they not?

Also, re your governor comment, yes, I am critical on this subject. Are governors supposed to be nodding dogs?

I'm quite surprised a this, as Singing is currently having a massive push in primamry schools and is part of a big government initiative led through this website

singup

You could ask if they are involved.

That looks a good site. I will ask the school if they plan to be involved. Thanks.

A 'Konfident Kids' room
S Club 7

Ye gods! I'm with the OP.

totally agree with you fircone. it's low quality music and the thought of the kids singing along half-heartedly to cds is spectacularly uninspiring. re what you can do - are you, as a governeor, involved in recruitment at all? and are there any vacancies coming up in the near future? it sounds to me like the school lacks a musical teacher. If you could get involved in the next recruitment perhaps you could push for getting someone with musical interests/abilities - "sell" it as something that would really enhance the school's work as a whole. there's plenty of research that shows decent musical education enhances other aspects of education. another thing you could do might be suggestions re how the school spends PTA money - does it have any instruments? would the PTA be interested in buying any? and then, thirdly, you could do some research about awards and grants - there are lots of govt and other initiatives that give schools awards for various things (eg healthy eating, being green) - I bet you could find something on music and then persuade the school that it's something worth pursuing. in the main my suggestion would be to keep quiet about what the school is doing (ie don't criticise) and come up with positive suggestions about what it could do. good luck

Here is the national curriculum for music.

You will see that singing assemblies are a tiny part of the music curriculum (see 1c). I don't think it is fair to criticise the rest of the music curriculum unless you know what it consists of (I am referring to your comparison with 'St Ponce's' music lessons).

And no, you aren't meant to be a nodding dog, but you are meant to be supportive aswell.

UQD re Metal Guru on syncopation etc.

I had a completely brilliant middle school music teacher called Sr Sheila, she played pub piano type accompaniment to all the hymns at assembly to the point at which, on the odd occasion I have to go to Mass, it seems all the hymns are far too slow.

One week one of the boys brought 'You Spin Me (Like a Record)' [n.b. I may have got the parentheses wrong but you know the one I mean] and she doggedly played it at the wrong speed and told us all about the rhythm and how it was all put together to make the whole thing work.

She was ace.

Message withdrawn

Fgs - because there are many, many more things which are part of the music curriculum and have to be taught in music lessons.

DS also did Reach for the Stars in Y1 - as part of the infants choir for a music competition!! They didn't win. I sympathise with Fircone in that everything they seemed to do that I saw in the infants was the children just murmering half-heartedly to a CD.

However, the teacher who takes them for music in the juniors is a semi-retired supply teacher (although she seems to be on permanent supply). She plays the piano and drills the children into learning the words and singing along clearly. Last term they have been learning assorted Disney songs - I don't know whether the OP feels that that is any better? I've enjoyed having DS singing Mary Poppins/Jungle Book on the way to school.

If there was something I was generally unhappy about with regard to the school curriculum I would speak with the Head Teacher.

Good point, hatwoman about making positive suggestions rather than dissing the existing provision (tempting though it is!)

Feenie, I am supportive of the school. It is good on many things. I cannot possibly be supportive and therefore feel it is my duty to speak up when I see them doing something which does nothing to improve the pupils' education.

That's fine, but find out about the other 14/15ths of the curriculum before you slag it off, either to the school or on MN.

That is, the other 14/15ths of the music curriculum, in case I wasn't clear.

IME the 'music curriculum' is practising the songs they will sing at parents assembly!

And many parents would be happier if that was the case, it would seem from this thread.

However, as I keep harping on saying, the music curriculum is much, much more than this.

for crying out loud, tell us what the kids do in music. For any favour.

Who, me? Do you want the NC link again?