Music

‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.’

Plato

Intent

To facilitate the personal and musical development of all pupils. Children are provided with a wide variety of opportunities to become confident musicians, through diverse, high quality, challenging, musical experiences that enable them to better understand the world they live in. Through this curriculum we aim to provide all the children with the educational, social and cultural capital to which they are entitled.

Music forms a focus for the whole school through children’s shared experiences of the largely practical curriculum. The children are supportive of each other’s development in the seven key areas as evidenced by their enthusiasm to take part in classroom and whole-school events. Parents are supportive and appreciative of the opportunities afforded to their children, attending performances in large numbers, contributing generously to the Music fund (Music is self-funding, raising in ordinary times, around £1,000 a year which has been spent on the equipping of the Music Room). The school runs a Choir, Orchestra and Recorder Group which are attended collectively by around 80 children each week. Around 120 children currently take private instrumental lessons weekly and can choose between piano, all strings, brass and woodwind, and all rock band instruments. A dedicated team of peripatetic teachers deliver this programme and liaise closely with the school to ensure the best outcomes for the children they teach.

The children are exposed to a wide range of music from different parts of the world and from different periods in history over the last 1000 years. Music is a valuable tool for exploring other cultures but also for rooting children in their own culture and location and creating a sense of belonging. In many ways the music we listen to and create forms a shared culture for the children to take forward and confidently build on in their lives.

Joy is a vital aspect of music teaching and learning. Music occupies a unique position in human culture; its purposes, forms, and uses infinite, but characterised by enjoyment and participation. To this end, children are always welcome to bring their own musical experiences to lessons and need to feel that their own music from outside school is valued.

Children and parents are asked to give feedback on all aspects of the school’s music regularly, in letters to parents, and in class.

Music can be an exclusive subject-cost, social and cultural assumptions, and ideas about ability can all influence children’s engagement with music. These need to be made explicit, and to be constantly challenged by everyone, staff and children. I believe that we do this, although it needs constant review. Providing clear information about what is on offer and how to access it, as well as funding for private music lessons for PP children are two of the most obvious ways we do this.

Implementation

The curriculum has been developed within the school over a number of years. One person teaches the subject across the school meaning they have an overview of progression and individuals’ development. In KS 1 and EYFS the curriculum builds from lesson to lesson, revisiting and adding new skills as the children ‘internalise key skills and techniques through a range of activities, including call-and-response songs and chants, improvisation, movement and active listening. Pupils create music through improvisation and they will also start to learn some simple compositional techniques and structures to prepare for Key Stage 2’ (MMC p12)

As Music Teacher, it is vital that I keep myself abreast of the many developments in Music Education. To that end I have recently (2021) completed a Masters in the subject at UCL. This gave me a good grasp of the philosophical, sociological and historical aspects of the subject and how these impact on policy and curriculum design at a national and individual school level. I am active on various online forums where the subject, including content, planning and implementation are discussed on a daily basis.

Our Music subject leader is Mrs Clare Clarke

Please contact her for further information.

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