Music
Where words fail, music speaks
- Hans Christian Andersen
Curriculum Statement
At Blackthorns, we recognise the importance that music plays in the curriculum and beyond. We understand that music provides opportunity for personal expression and growth and the integral part it can play in developing the whole child. This vibrant subject transcends different cultures, abilities and generations and facilitates the bringing together of communities. We value the subject as a unique way of communicating which can both inspire and motivate children with a love of music which they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Intent
We have chosen the Get Set 4 Music scheme which offers an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to learning music that inspires and excites our pupils. It uses a wide variety of topics and themes to help deliver the expectations of the National Curriculum.
We aim to ensure that all children:
- develop a passion for, and a positive curiosity about, music
- have solid foundations for future music learning through the development of the strands of musical learning and by developing the skills required for listening and appraising, musical activities and performing
- work towards becoming lifelong music learners and feel willing and able to continue studying music beyond key stage 2
By promoting a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about different musical genres, the children will acquire the skills needed to succeed in the next stage of their life and beyond.
Implementation
All classes will have access to a high-quality music curriculum using the Get Set 4 Music scheme of work and resources. This progressively develops pupil skills in music through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons from Reception through to Year 6, which are taught by class teachers.
Children will progressively acquire, apply and repeat a growing bank of vocabulary, performance and composition skills organised around age-appropriate topics and themes – building blocks of musical language into more complex, fluent and authentic performances.
The scheme features a carefully sequenced progression of skills and knowledge which is constantly revisited throughout the units of learning. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch will be taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for music.
Get Set 4 Music enables children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts.
Each Unit of Work comprises the strands of musical learning which correspond with the national curriculum for music:
- Listening
- Composing
- Performing
Each unit of work is 6 weeks long and the children first focus on listening to and appraising the music, then composing music. Finally, they will have the opportunity to perform their compositions.
To supplement our curriculum, and to promote a whole school love of music, we have a whole school singing assembly each week, led by Mr Travers who also runs our early morning choir for Years 2 – 6. In addition to this, the school have developed good links with Sussex Music School and are gradually expanding the opportunities for pupils to access peripatetic music lessons, with singing, piano and guitar lessons currently available.
Impact
Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their music learning journey through the primary phase. Previously taught musical skills and language will be recycled, revised, recalled and consolidated whenever possible and appropriate. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills.
We take every opportunity to bring real music to the children and to provide opportunities for them to perform to an audience. We seek opportunities to invite musicians to share their music for the whole school, or engage with parents and members of the community who work within the area of music and performance to enhance our performances, including the Key Stage 1 Nativity, our KS2 carol concert and our Year 6 production.
The impact of the music curriculum will be visible in the quality of the individual, group and whole school performances, as well as pupil voice about their enjoyment of music and of course, the attainment data which will demonstrate children’s progress against key assessment end points.
How do we assess music?
The opportunity to assess pupil learning and progression in the key music skills (listening, composing and performing) is provided at the end of each 6-week teaching unit. Teachers will aim to assess each music skill throughout each unit to be able to provide reference points against which learning and progression in each skill can be demonstrated.
This information will be recorded and regularly monitored by the music subject leader.