Music

INTENT

The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils: 

Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
Be taught to sing, create and compose music
Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated 

At St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, we are using the Music Express scheme to deliver lessons that cover all the aims of the National Curriculum and Modal Music Curriculum in a fun and inspiring way. Our music curriculum intends to inspire creativity, self-expression and encourages our children on their musical journeys as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others. We hope to foster a life-long love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music. By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers and performers and as composers, we will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians.  

The aims of our Music curriculum are to provide a topic-based, cross-curricular approach to support children's learning in music and across other subjects through music. A progression plan is in place both within each year and from one year to the next, ensuring consistent musical development.  

Our Music Curriculum will develop pupils who: 

Can sing and use their voices individually and in a group 

Create and compose music on their own and with others 

Use technology appropriately when composing 

Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated 

Listen to, review and evaluate the work of great composers and musicians from a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions 

Enjoy and have an appreciation of a range of different musical styles e.g. Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pop, Rock etc. 

Use and understand musical language and include musical features in their own work 

Make judgements about the quality of music 

Have opportunities to play a variety of instruments 

Have different opportunities to take part in performances 

IMPLEMENTATION

Early Years Foundation Stage  

Musical learning is an intrinsic part of the EYFS provision. Original songs and chants and new lyrics sung to traditional melodies forge strong links with the theme of each starting point, and carefully selected pieces of recorded music develop listening skills. Children’s creative responses are encouraged through singing, playing, movement and dance.

Key Stage 1 & 2 

The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in classroom activities as well as singing assemblies, various concerts and performances, the learning of instruments, and the joining of musical ensembles. The key elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use the language of music to discuss it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom students learn how to play various un-tuned and tuned percussion instruments. In doing so they understand the different principles of creating notes, as well as how to devise and read their own musical scores and basic music notation. They also learn how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion, vocal sounds and technology is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.  

IMPACT

Whilst in school, children will have opportunities to forge their own musical journey, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. The integral nature of music and the learner creates a rich palette from which a child may access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - either as listener, creator or performer. They can discuss music and comprehend its parts. They can sing, feel a pulse, add rhythms and create melodies in a group and they can further develop these skills in the future and continue to enjoy and embrace music in their lives.