Respect – Resilience – Read – Retain
Respect – we aim to develop a sense of respect for themselves, peers, adults, other faiths and cultures, the environment and the wider world
Resilience – we aim to develop a ‘give it a go’ and ‘its ok to make mistakes’ attitude within our children to prepare them for life beyond school
Read – we believe that reading is the doorway to all learning, we will prioritise the teaching of reading in school
Retain – we aim for our children to know more and remember more, our curriculum design will reinforce and revisit skills and knowledge
Subject Lead – Miss Eglintine
Intent:
At St Teresa’s we believe that music enables children to express their creativity and imagination. We aim to develop self-confidence, creativity, a sense of achievement and a talent for music through interactive and engaging music provision through the Kapow music programme. Our aim is for the children to not only learn about music; but to become musicians who are able to share and perform using their new skills. We promote this by allowing children to listen to a variety of different musical styles, experiment with improvisation of different instruments and compose their own pieces of music. This allows the children to develop their own musicianship in line with the National Curriculum. There are a range of cross curricular links within each Key Stage by using music to enhance subjects. Children are also given the experience of performing in public venues, school events and also serve the local community through visits to enhance confidence and put their skills into practice. Singing is also a key area of school life taking place during Collective Worships as well as being a part of classroom life. Children are given the opportunity to sing in classrooms, learn musical vocabulary as well as the importance of warming up and vocal health.
Implementation:
We follow the National Curriculum for Music through the Kapow music scheme. This is mapped out from Nursery to Year 6. Children in KS1 are all focusing upon the Year 1 scheme of work to build up their musical knowledge and curriculum which will then be incorporated into a two year rolling programme. Children in KS2 from Years 3-6 are all following the Year 3 scheme again to build their musical confidence and knowledge. This will then be adapted into a 2 year rolling programme with progression from Lower Key Stage 2 to Upper Key stage 2.
At St. Teresa’s, Music starts in the Nursery and Reception classes through performing songs with actions, composing using body percussion to accompany nursery rhymes as well as beginning to experiment with the playing of instruments. Children are also introduced to the inter-related dimensions of music through the discussion of loud and soft as well as fast and slow. Children are given the opportunity to listen to music and discuss what they can hear as well as beginning to repeat simple rhythms and lyrics.
In Key stage one, the children build on this earlier knowledge of music to enhance their performance, composition and listening skills. Children are actively encouraged to perform and discuss a range of different musical genres as well as continuing to build their musical vocabulary linked to the inter-related dimensions of music. Children begin to recognise that music can be written down using notation and are able to use more musical vocabulary when discussing what they can hear.
In KS2, all children from Year 3 – 6 are given at least 1 terms worth of instrument teaching. This is building on previous knowledge from KS1 on notation and rhythm allowing the children to perform and compose their own pieces of music. Children are given the opportunity to improvise as well as discuss musical vocabulary with increasing confidence. Children in KS2 also begin to develop a knowledge of the history of music and can compare different genres and traditions of music using their knowledge of the inter-related dimensions of music. Children can confidently share their opinion of music continuing to expand their musical knowledge and vocabulary through class based discussions.
At St Teresa’s, we evidence our musical progression and understanding through the use of floor books within the classroom. Photographs, written pieces of work and ideas from the children are evidenced within the floor book so children can revisit their previous learning and enjoy their musical journey through out the year. Videos of performances are also evidenced as children perform both within the classroom and at other opportunities (e.g. choir performances, collective worships, local visits etc).
Impact
Through their Music curriculum, St Teresa’s pupils will be aware of a range of different musical genres and styles and will be beginning to grow in confidence with their musical vocabulary and knowledge. They will have gained a better knowledge and understanding of music and its impact and influence in history and culture throughout the world.
Most children will have also developed many other skills which are transferrable to other aspects of life for instance confidence, listening skills and discussion skills. They will leave their primary school with a sound base with which to begin Key Stage Three.