Intent

At Worth Primary School, through the study of music, we aim to offer an enjoyable learning experience, with a rich and broad curriculum, regardless of race, gender or specific needs. This learning should ignite curiosity and prepare children well, for future learning or employment. At Worth Primary School, our music curriculum intends to inspire creativity, self-expression and encourages our children on their musical journeys, as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others.  We hope to foster a life-long love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music. Our music curriculum will give the students opportunity to:

• Develop a thorough understanding of music, through performing, composing, listening, and analysing
• Develop self-confidence through performance
• Encourage creativity through composition skills
• Understand the complexities of music through analysis of a wide range of genres from different musical and cultural perspectives
• Encourage personal development through ensemble performances and group compositions
• Understand how music can support the development of life skills, such as confidence, self-awareness, perseverance and discipline and provide a holistic experience, that they can take beyond their musical studies
• Gain a sense of achievement through performance.

Implementation

We aim to provide a broad and ambitious history curriculum rich in subject knowledge, skills and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum Music Programs of study and EYFS Framework. The music curriculum ensures children: sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in classroom activities, as well as singing during assembly, various concerts and performances and the learning of instruments (KS2). The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use the language of music to discuss it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom, students learn how to play various un-tuned and tuned percussion instruments. In doing so, they understand the different principles of creating notes, as well as how to devise and read their own musical scores and basic music notation. They also learn how to compose, focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion, vocal sounds and technology is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements, without the added complexity of an instrument.

The lessons will be taught through class Topics and also some subject specific lessons. Music is embedded into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and the Reception children work towards achieving the Early Learning Goal, of being Imaginative and Expressive by the end of the academic year. The Reception children sing a variety of songs and Nursery Rhymes daily and develop early musicianship, by exploring a range of percussion instruments, as part of the continuous provision.

Some use is made of the Music Express scheme in Years 1-6.

In Year 4, all children participate in the Wider Opportunities scheme, offered by the Love Music Trust, in Cheshire East. Children are given the opportunity to learn either the violin or cello, with experienced Peripatetic Music Teachers. The children experience both instruments and then select one, to continue learning. Following their 10 lessons, children can continue with lessons, as part of the Continuation scheme, if they wish.

Choir club is available for KS2 children and we participate in the ‘Young Voices’ choir event,

Music is assessed through Formative Assessment methods within the classroom and progress is reported on our end-of-year reports.

Impact

By the time children leave us, they should have developed:

• The ability to enjoy music as a listener, creator or performer
• An understanding of the culture and history of music
• The ability to discuss their own thoughts, opinions and ideas about specific styles of music, acknowledging and respecting the opinions of their peers.
• The ability to discover their strengths in music and areas that they would like to continue working on.