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Music

Intent

Music teaching at Wentworth Primary School aims to follow the specifications of the National Curriculum; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum and ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge and skills.  At Wentworth we believe that music plays and integral role in helping children to feel part of a community, therefore we provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience.  Through concerts, assemblies and key stage performances, children are given the opportunity to show case their talents and their understanding of performing with awareness of others.  Lessons enable children to develop their skills, appreciate a wide variety of music and begin to appraise a range of musical genres.  We want all children to recognise their musical ability, give them every opportunity to explore their musicality and most importantly enjoy music.

 

The aims of our Music curriculum are for children to:

·        Enjoy and have an appreciation of music (through playing instruments and singing).

·        Listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, cultures, styles and traditions.

·        Sing and use their voices to create different effects.

·        Create and compose music, both on their own and with others.

·        Use a range of musical language, which is referred to as, the inter-related dimensions of music: pitch, timbre, dynamics, tempo, texture, structure and musical notation.

·        Make judgements and express personal preferences about the quality and style of music.

·        Take part in performances with an awareness of the audience.

·        Learn an instrument (un-tuned or tuned instrument).

 

 

Implementation

 

Music teaching at Wentworth Primary delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum through the Charanga Scheme of work (Essex Music Services).  At Wentworth, both our specialist Music teacher and classroom teachers deliver fun, engaging, well-planned quality music lessons following the Charanga programme, although adaptations can be made in order to link to a more thematic learning approach in other curriculum areas. 

Each half-termly unit of work has an on-going musical learning focus and lessons usually follow a specific sequence. This sequence of learning features in all units of work (in the Charanga scheme) from Foundation stage through to Year 6.  Our progression map ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

The learning sequence for each year group is as follows:

*Listen and Appraise

*Musical Activities (including pulse and rhythm)

*Singing and Voice

*Playing instruments

*Improvisation/Composition

*Perform, Share and Evaluate

During the year, all children will have the opportunity to develop their understanding, skills and techniques in music.  The Charanga scheme ensures that all pupils sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate.  This is embedded through classroom activities. 

As well as this, we offer extra- curricular musical participation opportunities such as choir and singing in the local community. Our music specialist offers 1-1 music lessons for guitar, piano, flute and clarinet to all children and as a school we give the children the opportunity to join our many musical ensembles (KS1 and KS2 choir, KS2 ensemble and recorder club).  As a result, there are various performances such as the Summer Music Concert, Summer Fete and Christmas Bazaar, which the children can take part.  Wentworth Primary take part in the Chelmsford Choir Festival each year and have been very proud of our recent achievements. We also have a specialised singing teacher who teaches in Year 4 and encourages pupils to join the local choir in Maldon and become involved in musical events in the community.

 

Impact

·        All pupils

Through the child’s journey at Wentworth, their musical skills and understanding are built on year on year, from singing nursery rhymes and action songs from memory in EYFS to singing songs and performing simple rhythmic patterns in  KS1.  From this, they progress onto more advanced techniques, skills and understanding in lower KS2 and then further developing still in upper KS2, where the children are able to play a tuned or un-tuned instrument confidently, and have the ability to read and follow simple musical notation.  Throughout all of this, the child’s enjoyment of music is a key element, running alongside the ‘taught’ musical skills and objectives.

 

·        DP

To give the child an opportunity to enhance their musical ability and inspire children to develop a love of music and their talents as musicians.

Learning a musical instrument (peripatetic 1-1 lessons)

Choir (free of charge)

Ensembles (percussion instruments)

 

·        SEND

Learning music increases a child’s self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. Music allows children to discover areas of strength.

Children have the opportunity to learn an un-tuned instrument and sing as part of an ensemble.  All lessons are differentiated to suit all abilities.

 

We measure the impact of our music curriculum through the following methods:

·        Pupil perceptions

·        Music assessment sheets

·        Photo and video evidence of the pupils’ practical learning.

·        Dedicated Music Subject Leader time.

·        The uptake of our music clubs and additional music 1:1 teaching.