Music
Here at Newker Primary School, we want to ensure that our children’s knowledge and skills in music develop progressively over time, building on their prior learning and setting them up to succeed in their next steps. We want this to be evident during each music lesson, as well as throughout each unit, term, year and key stage. By the time our pupils leave at the end of Year 6, we want them to have a secure understanding of core skills, good knowledge of musical theory and ability to participate in performances that will enable them to access the music curriculum in Key Stage 3 and beyond should they wish.
Charanga provides access to high quality resources and a highly structured and progressive curriculum that supports non-specialist teachers in delivering a quality first experience for every child. We intend that all staff are confident in their delivery of music lessons and we provide training and support within school to help develop this.
Children have a desire to learn instruments, so we have built in opportunities to do so in our school curriculum. We have a specialist Ukelele teacher to works with children across the school, as well as guitar lessons throughout the year in Year 4.
We have a range of opportunities for children to develop their musical skills beyond the classroom. We provide opportunities for pupils to express themselves in extra-curricular clubs and shows. Currently, we run a Musical Theatre after school club as well as the opportunity for families to sign their children up to instrument tuition via Rocksteady Music School. We aim to drive up the profile of music and want to give a real purpose to our musical learning.
Implementation
Following the Charanga scheme allows us to focus on Listening and Appraising – developing an appreciation and awareness of a wide range of styles, genres, composers and instruments and developing a deeper cultural capital for all children. It also provides opportunities to develop Musicianship and Performance using a range of instruments including vocals when Singing but also untuned and tuned percussion as well as tuned instruments. Children are able to explore and develop improvisation and composition skills through regular and planned opportunities. Children will be taught how to read and follow musical notation through a carefully planned and organised sequence of learning. Throughout all of this, there is a real focus on the acquisition of a growing lexicon of Musical Vocabulary to help develop our pupils’ knowledge, familiarity and confidence when working musically, for example, terms such as pitch, rhythm, pulse. Opportunities for regular practise supported by careful explanation will embed specific into every child’s repertoire.
To give children a purpose for their musical learning, we have incorporated a number of performance opportunities into our curriculum, such as assemblies and concerts. This will allow sufficient class time and focus to ensure high quality learning and performances.
Children are given the opportunity to focus on learning a range of instruments through our school curriculum. In EYFS, they will explore a range of instruments. In Key Stage 1 and 2, a half term will be spent learning the different aspects of music through an instrumental course (ukelele). We use Durham Music Service to help deliver this in Year 4 as part of their whole class provision, whereby a specialist teacher comes into school to introduce guitar, which will be used for their weekly lessons.
In order to support staff in their knowledge and enhance the provision of musical teaching further, we use the Charanga webinars which focus on different aspects of the curriculum, such as musical theory or inclusion. The music lead also uses training sessions to share approaches and resources to all teachers.
The music lead works with the local Music Hub in order to develop overall planning and to keep it challenging, stimulating, relevant and accessible to all.
Impact
As a result of our curriculum, children will
- Appreciate and understand a wide variety of music and genres
- Recall and build upon previous learning
- Develop a love and enjoyment of music through participation in fun and enjoyable yet stimulating and challenging lessons
- Grow in creativity and confidence
- Acquire deepening knowledge of musical features and vocabulary
- Become more confident in using instruments for pleasure and performances
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Read our Music Development Plan here
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