Music at Whitehouse Primary
Intent
At Whitehouse Primary School, it is our aim that we make the subject of Music an enjoyable experience for all pupils. We encourage children to participate in a range of musical experiences to develop their self-esteem, confidence and musical appreciation. Musical skills are appreciated and acknowledged across all year groups, whether that be singing, composition or playing an instrument. Throughout lessons, children learn and enhance the skills of composition, listening and appraisal, performing and understanding within the subject. These skills allow children to gain a wide understanding of what the music curriculum entails whilst also developing an appreciation for various genres, composers and musical styles.
We would like all our children to:
- Develop a positive and confident attitude towards music.
- Develop their ability to express themselves fluently, to talk about the subject with assurance whilst using correct musical language and vocabulary.
- Develop musical skills and knowledge about a range of composers and styles.
- Develop their vocabulary surrounding music which can enhance discussions and critique.
- Develop their ability to compose their own music using a range of instruments.
- Be challenged to the best of their ability.
- Develop their listening skills to appreciate and appraise a range of music and styles.
- Develop their ability and confidence to perform various means of music and use music as in integral tool in all aspects of learning (cross-curricular).
Teaching of Music in Early Years Foundation Stage
In Early Years, music plays a large part in children’s development matters. Children sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them. Children are taught to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music and dance. Music is an important part of aiding the development of fine motor skills, which is an important part of the early years curriculum.
Teaching of Music in Key Stage 1
Pupils are taught to;
- Use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
- Play tuned and untuned instruments musically
- Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
- Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.
Teaching of Music in Key Stage 2
Pupils should be taught to:
- Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
- Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
- Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
- Use and understand staff and other musical notations
- Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
- Develop an understanding of the history of music.
Implementation
We offer a variety of musical opportunities both within and additional to the curriculum. Every week, we sing in assembly, where the children sing a variety of different songs and hymns. We have a weekly singing club, who perform at various locations throughout the year, including performances and workshops. This offers the chance for children to develop their singing and performing ability.
We also use a specialist teacher who teaches all children in KS1 and KS2 singing bi-weekly and directs a summer performance for parents which showcases music in many forms including singing and instrumentals.
We have a music week every year, where the children have a musical theme and focus. This has ranged from using the BBC 10 classical pieces as a stimulus to modern day musicals.
To make sure all children have the opportunity to explore the skills of composition and performing, CPD has been given to staff to help build their knowledge of music and how it can assist in other areas across the curriculum.
Impact
- Children have strong knowledge of musical genres, instrument families and musical content.
- Children have a positive attitude towards music.
- Children have a positive attitude towards performing.
- Children are able to work collaboratively to create, explore and analyse various musical pieces.
- Children understand the fundamental elements of music: pitch, dynamics, duration, tempo, timbre, texture and structure.
