Music
Intent
It is our intent that every child, from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6, will take part in a well-structured, broad and varied music curriculum. It will allow children to learn new skills, perform on their own, in small or large groups, be creative and enable children, especially those for whom English is their second language, take full part in activities alongside their peer with understanding and enjoyment. The children will also be acquiring knowledge about composers, musicians and the history of music.
It is also the intent to achieve the following National Curriculum aims:
- perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
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learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
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understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
By the end of Key Stage 1 children will have been taught to:
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use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
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play tuned and untuned instruments musically
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listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
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experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.
By the end of Key Stage 2 Children will have been taught to:
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play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
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improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
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listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
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use and understand staff and other musical notations
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appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
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develop an understanding of the history of music.
Implementation
Music plays an integral part in the EYFS curriculum. Songs, rhymes, body percussion and percussion instruments are used on a regular basis throughout the year in order to enhance all areas of learning. Children have the opportunity to sing, listen to a variety of genres of music, see orchestral instruments, play a variety of percussion instruments and are given their first experience of musical terms such as tempo, pitch, dynamics etc.
From Reception to Year 6 practical music is taught through Charanga.
Once the children have become competent in singing and have begun to develop some musical skills, they then transfer these skills to instruments, beginning with percussion and then the glockenspiel.
Other opportunities for Music in the school.
As a Catholic school, music plays an important role in our worship. This includes the singing of hymns and religious music at assemblies, school Mass and Parish Mass, drawing on a wide variety of music from traditional and well-loved hymns of the Catholic tradition to contemporary music composed specifically to reflect and enhance the Come and See RE scheme of work. Music is also used during Collective Worship as a means of meditation and stimulation.
Year 3 – 6 are invited to join the school choir which is run as an after school club. All abilities are welcome (no auditions needed – just enthusiasm and a love of singing!)
At Christmas all children are involved with Nativity plays and Carol concerts and services. Music plays an important part in all these events, both vocal and instrumental. In July we stage our annual music festival to show case every child’s musical skills. Each class performs a musical number which usually includes singing, instrumental work and dancing. Parents are invited to watch: it has proved to be a very popular event!
Impact
As music is such a practical subject, progress can be observed at every opportunity. Videos and recordings of the children performing give a clear indication of the progress they have made. Children are encouraged to assess their own progress within each lesson and peer assessment encourages them to support each other and build confidence within the class. As a result children can see how others are developing alongside themselves.
Formative assessment takes place throughout every lesson to inform next steps and summative assessment at the end of the year provides evidence of attainment of skills matched against the National Curriculum.
At St Alban’s not only do we pray together, work together and play together . . . we also make music together!