Music
Intent
At Beeston Primary School, music is a way for children to express their emotions enjoyably and creatively. It plays an important role in personal development and at Beeston Primary School we aim to provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform, listen, analyse and enjoy music across a wide range of periods, genres and styles. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and aim to provide opportunities for children to use their musical skills, knowledge and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Implementation
The music curriculum ensures the children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as weekly singing in assemblies, various concerts and performances and the learning of instruments. Through the musical programme Charanga, teachers are able to produce inclusive lessons for all children to access the musical curriculum in a fun and engaging way, further promoting a love of learning. Teachers deliver music following the Charanga programme, designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools. Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of their language of music to dissect it and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom, children learn to play the glockenspiel from Year 1 to 6; other instruments, such as the recorder are encouraged to be learnt and played among the glockenspiel to encourage a variety of instruments. Year 3 also learn to play the recorder with an outside organisation. Playing various instruments enables children to use a range of methods to create notes, as well as how to read 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 and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.
Impact
Music enables children to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as a listener, creator or performer. Children have the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas acknowledging that these may vary and that this is positive. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. At Beeston Primary School children are provided with opportunities beyond the national curriculum to further support their understanding. These include having visitors with a musical talent, visiting concerts and school productions. External interests and talents are also encouraged and show cased in class and whole-school assemblies.
