Intent

Music is explored through listening, singing, playing, appraising, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres.

We have devised a spiral based curriculum using modules that will develop as the year groups move through the school. The use of repetition on tasks and linking modules together will help the children to gain applied knowledge of the material they study. Our objective is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the importance of all types of music, and a respect for the role that music can play in a person’s life. When teaching, several classroom techniques such as call and response, imitation and relay are used. These techniques help to ensure each and every child understands the rhythms or melodies covered in the scheme of work. Class, group and solo activities are devised to encourage children to work effectively as a team and independently.

Children are encouraged to perform regularly both in and out of the school setting. This includes band ensembles, vocal groups and percussion groups. We also encourage children to compose regularly and communicate effectively to other musicians by transcribing their compositions.

We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.

The main aims of our music curriculum are:

1. To foster all pupils’ enjoyment of and sensitivity to music through active involvement in performing, composing, listening and evaluating.

2. To develop knowledge, awareness and understanding of a broad selection of musical skills and compositions including those from historical periods, traditions, styles and cultures from other times and places.

3. To encourage pupils’ emotional response to music-induced moods and atmospheres, and to develop their capacity to communicate by expressing ideas, thoughts and feelings.

4. To use the experience of music-making to raise self-esteem.

5. To develop skills, attitudes and attributes that support learning in other subject areas, for example: listening skills, concentration, creativity, team-building, perseverance, self-confidence and sensitivity towards others.

6. To encourage creativity by supporting children’s instinctive drive for sensory experience, and developing their ability to compose music as a means of self-expression.

7. To enable pupils to experience fulfillment through striving for the highest possible artistic and technical standards.