Intent
At St William’s we promote and deliver music to all children regardless of background, ability or language. The music curriculum develops pupils’ love of music, confidence and creativity, and provides children with a sense of pride and achievement through singing, playing, listening, evaluating and composing across a wide range of styles, periods, genres and traditions, resulting in the acquisition of knowledge. Children will listen, perform and compose in a safe environment where they can express themselves and take risks. They are given the opportunity to progress their creative excellence.
Implementation
Children have access to a balanced music scheme of work based around the Charanga scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum but also draws on other sources. Children begin their musical journey in EYFS:
- Hearing and Listening – Children describe music (e.g. scary, happy), match audio to visual clues, begin to distinguish and describe changes in music, and may associate music with experiences.
- Vocalising and Singing – Children create and improvise during song and match pitch and rhythm.
- Moving and Dancing – Children use music to move rhythmically, they physically interpret the sound of instruments and imitate the actions of musical instruments.
- Exploring and Playing – Children add sound effects to stories, play instruments with control over dynamics and tempo, create music based on themes and may play along to the beat/rhythm of the music.
Children in Key Stage 1 & 2 are given the opportunity the develop the ‘Building Blocks’ of music; pulse, rhythm and melody (notation) and the ‘Strands of Learning’; active listening, composing & improvising and performing & singing. Teaching and learning will show progression across all the Key Stages within the Building Blocks and Strands of Learning.
Children across all Key Stages have access to a wide range of tuned and untuned instruments and will learn to use physical and online resources purposefully. Children’s music vocabulary and knowledge will increase and their ability to read and notate music will develop through traditional and non-traditional forms.
Durham Music Service will work with children across the school, predominantly year 4 & 5, delivering class tuition, and children in Key Stage 2 have the opportunity to engage in private music tuition.
Children have the opportunity to hear live music being performed and opportunities to perform both inside and outside of school through curricular and extra-curricular activities such as choir.
Impact
Children will become confident when engaging in new activities which allow them to express themselves in a safe environment.
Most children will achieve age-related expectations at the end of their cohort year which demonstrates the retention of applicable knowledge which has been built upon through each stage of their school career. Children’s retained knowledge of musical abilities, appreciation and vocabulary will aid in any future musical exploration.