Music is a unique way of communicating that can inspire and motivate children. It is a vehicle for personal expression, and it can play an important part in the personal development of people. Music reflects the culture and society we live in, and so the teaching and learning of music enables children to better understand the world they live in. Our curriculum intent for Music reflects the purpose and aims of the national curriculum by helping our pupils develop a love of music and their talent as musicians.

Our intent in the teaching of music is:

 · to explore how sounds are made, and can be organised into musical structures;

 · to show how music is produced by a variety of instruments;

 · to teach how music is composed and written down using a variety of methods including using technology;

 · to examine the relevance of when, where and why a given piece of music was written;

 · to develop the interrelated skills of singing, performance, listening and composition.

We will use the Charanga Musical School Scheme, to enable a whole school approach to our Music learning which is ideal for specialist and non-specialist teachers. We will provide weekly music lessons using this repetition-based approach to help develop memory and learning. We encourage pupils to continue this learning at home, using the Music World associated with the scheme.

Our planning is sequenced in long and medium terms plans and is intended to offer a broad and rich Music curriculum; providing many performance opportunities, offered throughout the fabric of school life. We will access the lesson plans, assessment, and progression to ensure cohesion and to support non-specialist staff.  The curriculum content is adapted to the context of our school and the pupils within. It intends to provide a high quality, coherent and progressive experience of the subject through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions and genres.

Music within the Junior School, seeks to continue to develop from the strong foundation gained in the infant school with weekly music lessons ensuring a clear skills progression, a weekly singing assembly which aims to celebrate music through the performance of secular songs, as well as recognise our Christian distinctiveness.

We believe every child should have the opportunity to learn an instrument regardless of individual needs or ability. These opportunities take place within the music lesson through teacher led whole class Charanga schemes. Within our instrumental lessons, Yatton Learner Skills are promoted. The curriculum design seeks to promote adventurous ideals; requiring great responsibility, increasing self-confidence, risk taking and curiosity, resilience, creativity and a sense of achievement from performing in collaboration; skills that can be taken and used across the curriculum.

We are committed to developing children’s ethical attitudes towards music; ensuring children appreciate and respect the value and importance of music and understand the role it can play in life, with personal emotions and experiences.

 

 

Implementation:

Teachers are committed to providing a stimulating and engaging music curriculum ensuring that our learners have regular opportunities to sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate throughout their primary years. We provide a weekly lesson, following a comprehensive scheme of learning, supporting non-specialist staff through training and support. We teach the theory elements of music through these lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how music is composed, played and appreciated. Lessons are adapted to support all pupils.

Our pupils learn to compose, focussing on different dimensions of music; this develops their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. We will use a range of methods to teach composing and will experience different genres of music.

We work in close partnership with WEMA (West of England Music Association), our music HUB and receive support and music opportunities throughout the year. Children in the Junior School have the opportunity to take part in the WEMA Christmas Celebration and the Big Sing. We also provide opportunities for the children to learn the recorder (year 3 and 4), ukulele (year 5 and 6) and join our two school choirs which performs regularly in school and at events in the local and wider community, actively encouraging pupils to perform and take risks, leading by example. These pupils in Year 5 and 6 have the opportunity to perform in the live musical concert, Young Voices, in the Genting Arena in Birmingham, performing choral pieces with a 6000 strong choir.

Children have opportunities to study a musical instrument with peripatetic teachers. Peripatetic music teaching is organised by WEMA, and our school has chosen to participate in the programme.

Outside of lessons, music is taught through weekly singing assemblies and teachers look to find opportunities to bring music and singing into the wider curriculum. We enjoy sharing our learning in our Christmas performance and in the Year 6 Summer show. We demonstrate and value children’s musical abilities and unique interests by inviting children to perform during assemblies and celebrating their achievements outside of school.

Children demonstrate their ability in music in a variety of different ways. Teachers will assess children’s work in music by making informal judgements as they observe them during lessons. This will inform teachers with their planning, lesson activities and differentiation. On completion of a piece of work, the teacher assesses the work and gives feedback to inform future progress. Older pupils are encouraged to make judgements about how they can improve their own work and to engage in peer assessment. At the end of a unit of work, the teacher makes a summary judgement about the work of each pupil against the objectives and expectations. This will inform future planning and opportunities. Children who have instrumental lessons are encouraged to bring their instrument (where appropriate) to their weekly music lesson and use this instrument as an alternative to the glockenspiel.

Impact:

Our varied music curriculum allows pupils to discover their strengths in music and we aim to build the confidence and skills of all our pupils. Pupils enjoy the freedom to be creative in a context where they can use their imagination whilst also making links to the wider curriculum. We want every child to engage fully in the musical opportunities given to them; to find their voice, their passion and use it to be connected to those around them. Teachers work to find each child’s unique way to access music and embrace the adventurous nature that music often represents. Our curriculum aims to improve the wellbeing of all children at Yatton Junior School, not only through the skills taught, but through the underpinning values and disciplines music promotes. We want to ensure that music is loved by teachers and pupils across school, encouraging them to want to continue building on this wealth of musical ability, now and in the future.