Music

Music at Wootton Primary School

Wootton Primary Music Development Plan summary 25-26

“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.” -Plato

Aims

The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

● perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods,
genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and
musicians
● learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own
and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use
technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of
musical excellence
● understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated,
including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo,
timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Intent

We believe that Music is an important part of our curriculum because it helps children
express emotions, build community and develop their creativity through fun and new
experiences.

We aim for all children to have the opportunity to learn to play a wide range of
instruments and take part in performances that enable them to benefit from the ‘stage’
experience.

We provide a range of enrichment opportunities through our music curriculum, our
extra-curricular clubs, assemblies and community events.

Through our curriculum we aim to ensure our pupils:

· Have an enjoyment and an appreciation for music.
· Have listened to, reviewed and evaluated music across a range of historical
periods, genres, styles and traditions.
· Have begun to learn about the works of the Great Composers
· Can sing and use their voices to create different effects.
· Create and compose music, both on their own and with others.
· Use a range of musical language in line with our vocabulary progression
· Can express personal preference about the quality and style of music.
· Have had the opportunity to play a wide variety of instruments, both un-tuned
(percussion) and tuned.
· Have performed music with an awareness of audience.
Music adheres to our core values and principles:
· Pupils are creative when composing and improvising.
· Pupils show kindness and respect when listening to and evaluating the
performances and performing as a group.
· Pupils show resilience when learning to play new instruments and mastering
them over an extended period of time.

Implementation

Our music is taught through class music lessons with the emphasis on practical work.
We deliver the requirements of the National Curriculum using the Charanga scheme of
work. Typically, a musical journey through the school may begin with child-initiated
music in EYFS which develops into short class music lessons, where daily singing and
rhythmic games are introduced. Children explore sound and performance using
selected resources that are placed into play areas. They create songs and dances using
a range of untuned percussion instruments, which they then enjoy performing to their
friends.

As children move into KS1 they continue with the Charanga scheme which introduces
them to appraisal, improvisation, composition and further performance. As they move
through the school they will have further opportunity to play a wider range of tuned and
untuned instruments. Outside agencies offer specialist provision aimed to give children
a ‘taster’ on a range of instruments with the view that they may find one that they then
wish to pursue further. In the final years at school, units build on children’s composing
skills where children may bring in their own instruments to deepen their musical
performance and compositions.

Across our school we develop an appreciation for the Great Composers, world music
and varying genres. Music is well resourced with un-tuned percussion, tuned
percussion and sets of keyboards for class use. The hall is equipped with concert style
piano and staging to support the performance of all groups and classes. We support the
development and teaching of music through the use of the Solent Music hub.

Impact

Evidence of strong outcomes for all can be shown through the school performances,
pupil’s comments and discussions, our monitoring, reporting and tracking. Much of our
evidence is through photos and evaluations. We ensure that all pupils are included and
are challenged to be the best they can be through ensuring that, where possible,
experiences are class-based to ensure access for all. We use Pupil Premium funding
when needed for children to learn on an individual basis when requested. We
endeavour to do termly assemblies that include instrumental play: often up to a third of
pupils perform solo or group on the stage to the school community where we celebrate
our successes together.