Intent:

‘Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity’ (National Curriculum)

At Katesgrove Primary School, we aim to provide children with this universal language through our enriched musical education and curriculum. From Early Years, we introduce the children to musical instruments, using their voices to sing as a group and to learn basic songs to use in the everyday classroom. Whilst providing a balanced, engaging and creative curriculum, the children will also build their skills, knowledge and musical concepts. Where children have different needs, steps will be taken to prevent these becoming a barrier to learning. Our children, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, special needs, attainment or background will receive equity in opportunity to make progress to fulfil their potential. At Katesgrove Primary School, we are committed to opening up experiences for the children to perform as solos, ensembles and as larger groups. It is important to allow the children to express their emotions and show an understanding and appreciation of different styles, genres and musical forms throughout history. It is vitally important that the children develop a love and enjoyment of music, as it is so prominent in our everyday lives. This allows the children to develop as musicians, increase their self-confidence and feel a sense of achievement.

Implementation:

As a school, we have used the Model Music Curriculum to sequence skills and knowledge progression across all year groups. The elements of music are taught through the skills of singing, listening, improvising, composing and performing. Children are given the opportunity to talk about music from their own experiences. Children are afforded the opportunity to learn a tuned instrument during their time at Katesgrove Primary School, through sessions delivered by a music specialist. Pupils will also create music using body and vocal percussion, untuned instruments and a range of tuned percussion. Throughout their time in school, children are provided with a scaffolded approach to their learning of reading notation. Learning is revisited many times over to develop precision, accuracy, fluency and control as children move further up through the school. The small steps of this learning are clearly modelled to enable the children to reach their intended goal. Where applicable, musical learning is linked to the wider curriculum. Opportunities to work collaboratively and in ensembles are provided regularly, often culminating in performances to a wider audience.

Intended impact:

By the end of Key Stage Two, all children will:

• Become accepting of different genres of music and cultures.
• Enjoy listening and understand how different pieces of music are written
• Participate in lessons and volunteer ideas to group work.
• Have the opportunity to find their voice or passion for an instrument.
• Learn about the history of music, where music nowadays originates from and how it has changed and progressed through the years.
• Become more creative and become more confident with experimentation.
• Understand notation, begin to write phrases of music and be able to perform their compositions using appropriate scaffolds.
• Sing confidently in an ensemble to an audience, pitching notes accurately.
• Find a form of self-expression and enjoy learning different instruments.