Music Curriculum Throughout both mandatory and elective programs, performance, listening and composition are at the heart of teaching and learning, with a strong emphasis on music as a performing art.
In addition to the classroom music program, many students elect to undertake private instrumental tuition. All students involved in private tuition at Barker must also perform in the School’s co-curricular ensemble program.
Prep and Junior School
The Prep and Junior School classroom teaching program is based on the Kodály methodology. Kodály believed that musical instruction should reflect the way that children learn naturally. Musical concepts are prepared and presented sequentially, through a variety of experiences including singing songs in unison, rounds, canons and in parts; singing themes from great instrumental music; games, improvisation and memory activities based on beat, rhythm, pitch and timbre; and listening and moving to music. Reading and writing skills stem from these activities. Tuned and untuned percussion instruments are also used as accompanying instruments for playing and improvising.
Students in Pre-K, Kindergarten and Year 1 begin their journey in music with two 30 minute music lessons per week. Individual instrumental lessons are also available on selected instruments. In Years 2 - 6 lessons are structured as follows: Year 2
Lesson 1
Classroom-based Instruction
Lesson 2
String Program
Year 3
Lesson 1
Classroom-based Instruction & Singing
Lesson 2
Group Tuition Strings/ Winds/Percussion
Lesson 3
String Orchestra or Band
Lesson 1
Classroom-based Instruction
Lesson 2
Choir
Lesson 3
String Orchestra/Band/ Classroom Percussion
Lesson 1
Classroom-based Instruction
Lesson 2
Composition/Ukulele/ Djembe Drumming
Lesson 3
Choir
Lesson 1
Classroom-based Instruction
Lesson 2
Composition/Guitar/ Djembe drumming
Lesson 3
Choir
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
8 | Music at Barker Programs
Darkinjung Barker Music Program Music plays an important part in the learning experiences at the Darkinjung Barker school. It is an important educational tool as well as a subject in its own right. The students follow a developmental sequential music program that is relevant to the context of the School and taught with a respect for culture and tradition. Singing is a rewarding and simple way in which the students participate in fun music making whilst engaging in English and first language learning activities. Beat, rhythm and movement activities also feature strongly in the program.