Music Curriculum at XII Apostles
Music - Subject Leader: Mr Ahmed and Curriculum Team 3
Intent
Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our school, it is our aim to use music to bring children together through the shared endeavour of whole school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and, through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils, performing. The sheer joy of music making feeds the soul of our school community, enriching each pupil while strengthening the shared bonds of support. The national curriculum outlines the following aims for music in schools: 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. Our Music curriculum intends to celebrate and recognise that each child is unique, and it encourages them to fulfil their potential as musicians. We look to help children become skilled, confident and creative musicians. Alongside this, we aim to provide children with opportunities to broaden their knowledge and experiences of music by learning about the concepts of composition, notation, appreciation and performance. Children learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, they learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and progress to the next level of musical excellence. We aim for children to explore and learn how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
Implementation
In Reception and Key Stage 1, children are taught to sing a wide repertoire of songs regularly. These are appropriately selected for their year group. During this time, children are encouraged to listen to music and develop an awareness of different types of music. They are presented with opportunities to use both tuned and untuned instruments to create, experiment combine and explore them. Throughout the Key Stage, children use these to develop their knowledge of rhythm, pulse and non-standard notation.
In Key Stage 2, children are taught how to use a wide variety of instruments and are encouraged to appraise performances in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. They are taught to recognise and discriminate between various musical elements such as pitch and rhythm as well as recognising and writing scale notations. Throughout Key Stage 2, children continue to use the tuned and non-tuned instruments to an increasing degree of sophistication; this allows them to compose and record rhythms using standard notation. In Year 3, children are introduced to Ukuleles. Over their time in Key Stage 2, the children use the ukuleles to develop and deepen their musicianship and performing skills. In Key Stage 2, children continue to learn about musicians and composers. Across school, staff utilise the Charanga scheme of music to deliver music lessons. In addition to the support provided by subject specialist music teachers from Wigan Music service.
Additional Opportunities
Over the course of their time at XII Apostles, children are given the opportunity to perform in whole class productions, visit theatres and performances at the Stoller Hall and Aviva studios where the children watch the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Chethams Symphony Orchestra perform different classical and modern pieces. Not only do these experiences support the children’s curriculum learning about different composers, they also provide them with a chance to broaden their understanding of music and the performing arts, visit different establishments and experience different forms of culture. Small group and individual instrumental tuition is available (for children in years 3 to 6) at an additional cost. This tuition is provided by visiting tutors from the Wigan Music Service. This entitles children to attend Area Music Centres and take part in bands, orchestras and ensembles at no extra cost. In Years 3-6, children are encouraged to join the school choir. During the school year, the children perform at different events including Young Voices and other occasions supporting the local community.
Impact:
At XII Apostles, we recognise the unique needs of each child and support them in reaching their human potential. The impact of our music curriculum is measured in the experiences, confidence and competence of our children within the subject. We ensure children receive the experiences they require, both within and beyond the curriculum, to develop their listening, creating, performing and musicianship.
Music Long Term Plan Overview.
