Music

Mrs Richmond

Intent

At The Gates, the aim of the Music curriculum is for the children to gain a firm understanding of what Music is through listening, singing, playing, composing and analysing a wide variety of musical genres. We aim to develop a curiosity for the subject as well as an understanding of all types of music. We are committed to ensuring that the children understand the importance of music and have the opportunity to regularly make music. The children will have the opportunity to play a range of instruments and develop an understanding of staff and other notations. They will learn to compose and perform using body percussion, vocal sounds and instruments, and this will develop their understanding of musical elements. Our school’s tailored approach to Music provides meaningful cross-curricular links with reading. SMSC will be developed by encouraging reflection and mutual respect. Our pupils will be encouraged to develop resilience, self-confidence, teamwork and leadership whilst also celebrating achievement. They will also deepen their understanding of musical cultures and history. We believe such experiences build character and help to embed British values such as fairness and respect. Our curriculum offers the pupils at The Gates a firm grounding in Music which they may wish to develop further as an academic or social activity.

Curriculum Overview

Knowledge Progression

Skills Progression

Development Plan

Implementation

In music lessons, children actively engage in creating and responding to music. Our aim is to foster the development of performing, composing, and appraising skills in all activities, and further enhance these skills by incorporating listening skills and knowledge of the interrelated dimensions of music. Music lessons are carefully planned using a range of resources, including the BBC Ten Pieces, published schemes like Charanga, and bespoke units created by the school.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, children have the opportunity to sing songs and rhymes and play a variety of untuned and tuned percussion instruments.

Throughout Key Stage 2, children learn to play and read staff notation and graphic scores through whole-class lessons on instruments such as the glockenspiel, chair drumming, and djembe drum rhythms. There are numerous singing opportunities within the curriculum Music lessons. Opportunities for composition and improvisation arise both in specific compositional units and incidentally during instrumental lessons.

A weekly whole-school singing assembly is led by an experienced musician, exposing children to a variety of musical styles and providing opportunities to sing in two-part rounds.

Key Stage 2 pupils have the option to participate in instrumental music lessons offered by the peripatetic music service, and they are guided towards group music-making opportunities provided by the Bolton Music Service.

We actively encourage children in Years 3-6 to join our choir, which regularly performs for the school and participates in local inter-school and church events.

We firmly believe in fostering the idea that music is enjoyable. Children are given opportunities to experience a wide range of live music, both within our school and at external venues. They are also encouraged to perform their own music for an audience, thus developing their self-confidence and consideration for others.

Impact

Our well-planned music curriculum ensures that children understand and can actively participate in the creation, production, and communication of music. This includes an understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music and proficiency in appropriate musical notations. Through the breadth and depth of our curriculum, children become confident musicians, capable of performing to diverse audiences and articulating their musical journeys. Our curriculum enables children to progress to higher levels of musicianship.