Music
Intent
The intention of our Music curriculum is first and foremost to help children to feel that they are musical, and to develop a life-long love of music. We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need in order to become confident performers, composers, and listeners. Our curriculum introduces children to music from all around the world and across generations, teaching children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.
Children will develop the musical skills of singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising and composing music, and listening and responding to music. They will develop an understanding of the history and cultural context of the music that they listen to and learn how music can be written down. Through music, our curriculum helps children develop transferable skills such as team-working, leadership, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and presentation and performance skills. These skills are vital to children’s development as learners and have a wider application in their general lives outside and beyond school.
Our curriculum enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets outlined in the national curriculum and the aims of the scheme align with those in the national curriculum.
Implementation
Our curriculum takes a holistic approach to music, in which the individual strands below are woven together to create engaging and enriching learning experiences:
- Performing
- Listening
- Composing
- The history of music
- The inter-related dimensions of music
Each unit combines these strands within a cross-curricular topic designed to capture pupils’ imagination and encourage them to explore music enthusiastically. Over the course of the scheme, children will be taught how to sing fluently and expressively, and play tuned and untuned instruments accurately and with control.
They will learn to recognise and name the interrelated dimensions of music - pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and dynamics - and use these expressively in their own improvisations and compositions. Our curriculum follows a spiral curriculum model where previous skills and knowledge are returned to and built upon. Children progress in terms of tackling more complex tasks and doing more simple tasks better, as well as developing understanding and knowledge of the history of music, staff, and other musical notations, as well as the interrelated dimensions of music and more.
Impact
After the implementation of our curriculum, pupils should leave Vine Tree Primary school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and to be able to enjoy and appreciate music throughout their lives.
Children will:
- Be confident performers, composers and listeners and will be able to express themselves musically at and beyond
- Show an appreciation and respect for a wide range of musical styles from around the world and will understand how music is influenced by the wider cultural, social, and historical contexts in which it is
- Understand the ways in which music can be written down to support performing and composing
- Demonstrate and articulate an enthusiasm for music and be able to identify their own personal musical preferences.
- Meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the national curriculum for Music.
Music School Development Summary 2024-25
Vision and Objectives
Our music program aims to foster a vibrant musical culture within our school, enhancing both individual student development and community engagement. The key objectives for the 2024-25 academic year are as follows:
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Raise the Profile of the School Choir
- We will schedule at least one music performance by the choir each half term, including participation in the Christmas Fair and exploring opportunities to perform at local events.
- Success Criteria: Increased awareness of the choir within the school and wider community, leading to growth in choir membership.
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Resource Management for Learning Units
- We will conduct a staff meeting focused on familiarizing all staff with current resources and ensuring that they are matched appropriately with each unit of work.
- Success Criteria: All lessons will be properly resourced, as indicated by pupil voice feedback, confirming that students have access to a wide range of instruments.
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Singing Assemblies
- Ensure high-quality, meaningful, and planned singing assemblies take place weekly for both KS1 and KS2. Following the successful trial of ‘Out of the Ark’ in KS2, we will expand this to include KS1/EYFS.
- Success Criteria: Availability of all necessary resources for weekly assemblies and preparedness of staff, resulting in a greater number of whole-school songs sung together, contributing to school cohesion.
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Long-Term Planning and Resources
- All classes will follow the new long-term plan and utilize resources from Kapow to ensure comprehensive coverage of the National Curriculum. We will share the new plan with staff and address any blind spots during meetings.
- Success Criteria: Evidence of all classes adhering to Kapow planning, reflected in floor books, with students experiencing a wider range of genres and composers, including musical theatre and film music.
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Enhancing Musical Enjoyment
- Through the implementation of these strategies, we aim to see an increase in pupil enjoyment of music as captured through feedback mechanisms, reflecting a thriving and engaging music environment.
By focusing on these key areas, we are committed to creating a dynamic and inclusive music program that not only enhances the skills and enjoyment of our students but also strengthens our connection to the local community.