Music
Intent
At Preston Manor Lower School, we teach Music to develop individualism and critical thinking. We believe that teaching music provided pupils with the opportunity to develop a sense of emotional intelligence while also flourishing creatively. It is our belief that exposing children to music during early development will improve language, critical thinking skills, emotional moderation and overall brain function. Music will help children to advance in all areas socially and academically. We believe that a music education provides every child with the opportunity to develop uniqueness and self-expression.
Music is organised into a long term plan identifying which units of learning will be covered across the year, ensuring that it is broad and balanced, enjoyable and engaging, challenging and meets the needs of all learners in our school. Sequenced lessons ensure that there is progression. Knowledge and skills are built upon across the half term. Progression is also clear across the year groups.
It provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful learners, with high aspirations, who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society.
From Reception to Year 6, the children will increase their long-term memory by building a bank of knowledge and skills which they can apply across the curriculum. Through teaching these units of learning, the teachers will further develop their subject knowledge of the subjects they are teaching.
By the end of Reception, the children will have a foundation for their creative repertoire and language. Children will use song and dance to express their moods, thoughts and feelings. Children will learn the meaning and application of basic rhythm and beat. Children will sing repetitive songs and follow along to a simple beat. Children will name different instruments.
By the end of KS1, the children will be able to use their voices to imaginatively sing different songs and rhymes. Children will experiment with playing different instruments and begin to compare different sounds. Children will listen to different pieces of music attentively and discuss the sounds they hear. Children will begin to create their own music by experimenting and utilising their musical knowledge.
By the end of KS2, the children will be able to begin to learn musical accuracy, fluency, control and expression. Children will perform in solo and ensemble settings. Pupils will listen in great detail to music and recall increasingly difficult sounds. Pupils will familiarise themselves with staff and musical notation and begin to apply this knowledge to playing music. Children will identify different families of instruments and classify instruments within them. Children will learn about the history of music and begin to listen to and appreciate several contemporary and accomplished musicians
Implementation
The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school.
Music is planned and taught for a half term, or can be taught in blocks. Educational visits and visitors are arranged to enhance the children’s learning experiences. Displays will support, reflect and celebrate the children’s learning.
Knowledge organisers are sent to families before the unit of learning is taught to allow the children and their family to discuss the forthcoming learning and carry out further research to support the learning.
They will have the opportunity to read around the subject. It also highlights the knowledge and vocabulary the children will gain. The children will also complete a home learning project to support their learning. CPD has been planned across the year to support the teaching and learning process, focussing on planning, challenge, questioning and developing cultural capital.
Impact
Enjoyment of the curriculum promotes achievement, confidence and good behaviour. Children feel safe to try new things. In subject, the children will be very clear about why they are learning the content taught to them. By the end of the unit of learning, the children will have acquired new vocabulary and new knowledge, which they will be able to recall and improve their long-term memory. They will be able to use the skills they have learned across the curriculum. Children will make progress over time, which will be clear in their books. The subject knowledge and pedagogy of learning for teachers will be improved. Individual teachers will have been supported through targeted CPD.