Music Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Verwood First C of E School and Nursery our music curriculum intends to inspire creativity, self-expression and encourage our children on their musical journeys as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others. We facilitate opportunities where all children can participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up their love of music, self- confidence and sense of achievement. Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to, sing in tune and with other people, play tuned and untuned musical instruments with increasing control, fluency and expression and listen critically to a wide range of music from different periods, genres, styles and traditions. As children progress through the school they will increasingly understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated through the interrelated dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and musical notation. By Key Stage 2 children will begin to improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the interrelated dimensions of music.

Implementation

By using Charanga as the basis of a scheme of work, we can ensure that they are fulfilling the aims for musical learning stated in the National Curriculum. Charanga includes many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre. Charanga provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, 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. During the lesson children will be given opportunities to apply skill and given a chance for collaboration through composition. Music within school has offered whole base samba and guitar lessons (as a part of our Dorset Music Service partnership), School Choir, Music Club, whole school productions, class assemblies with a singing focus, professional theatre performances, as well as close links with the local community through singing at supermarkets and nursing homes.

As music is a practical subject, assessment may be done by focussing on a small group at a time on certain tasks or skills, observing the children, discussing their work or self/group/teacher evaluation against criteria from the National Curriculum programmes of study and end of year expectations. The progression of skills ensures children are accessing work at age related expectations, with regular opportunities to be challenged through higher-level objectives. Children are assessed according to age related expectations in line with curriculum requirements. This is done in line with the school’s non-core assessment calendar. This information is recorded and monitored by the co-ordinator.

Expressive Arts and Design is a specific area in the Early Years Foundation Stage and music is a crucial part of the Being Imaginative and Expressive stand. A day in reception and nursery is filled with song, rhymes, poems and stories. Children feel safe in their environment to perform familiar tunes, share their favourite nursery rhymes with peers and create their own melodies while playing. They learn to copy rhythms and compose their own body percussion. 

Impact

The integral nature of music and the learner creates an enormously rich palette from which a child may access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer. They can sing, feel a pulse, add rhythms and create melodies in a group and they can further develop these skills in the future and continue to enjoy and embrace music in their lives.