Music

Intent

Music and singing is integral to the life of a Prior Heath child. We provide a vibrant musical experience for all children. We provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music; to develop musical skills; to appreciate a wide variety of musical forms; and to begin to make judgements about the quality of music.

Through our music curriculum pupils will:

• Gain enjoyment, self-confidence and a sense of achievement through musical activities.
• Be aware of, understand and respond appropriately to the rich variety of sounds in their environment and particularly to those organised arrangements of sounds called music.
• Acquire musical skills and understanding of musical concepts through primarily active listening, leading on to performing and composing.
• Develop their capacity to express ideas and feelings through the medium of sound.

Extra-curricular clubs, such as our recorder club and Rocksteady instrumental lessons enhance the curriculum on offer.

Occasional visits by performers further inspire pupils and develop their musical and cultural experience.

Implementation

We deliver a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum. This is delivered chiefly through the Charanga and Music Express schemes, but supplemented with a wide variety of other materials, including BBC Ten Pieces.

We enable the children to have a broad experience of musical genre and composers. Throughout their musical education, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices, using body percussion and whole-body actions, and learning to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform.

During music lessons, children will be given opportunities to learn music specific vocabulary in a meaningful context. Children will be provided with opportunities to practise and apply skills and to work collaboratively through composition, part-singing and performance.

Impact

All children will benefit from a high-quality music education which engages and inspires them to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians. It will increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they will develop a growing musical vocabulary that allows them to critically engage with music. Teaching and learning of music is a reflective process for the children as they are given the opportunities to assess themselves and their peers. The children also celebrate their success and skills with their peers and wider audiences.

The Progression of Skills for Music from Reception to Year 2 can be found here. (PDF, 481.39 kB)