Music
Intent
At West Lane, we aim to provide children with a high-quality education in Music, which develops their appraising, historical knowledge, composing and performing skills. They will consistently be given opportunities to be critical and creative within music in order to develop their skills as young musicians. We intend for children to listen to a wide range of music, from different genres, across different eras. This gives them the opportunity to think critically about what they are listening to. As well as this, it allows them to pick up key features of genres of music which they can later use in their own music. Enabling them to listen to music across time, from the past to the present, gives them the opportunity to understand how music has developed and changed as a result of events of the time.
We also intend to give children the opportunities to compose their own pieces of music. This will give them the opportunities to be creative and explore their use of sounds. They will be able to work both individually and as part of a group to create their own pieces of music.
With regards to performing, we intend to give children as many opportunities as possible to perform together in order to develop their confidence. This may be a range of pre-composed songs, which they can perform in their own style or recreate, or songs which they have composed themselves.
Implementation
The aims are embedded within our Music lessons and opportunities are provided as part of the wider curriculum. We plan activities to build upon a child’s prior learning, whilst giving children of all abilities the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding. Our planning is always rooted in the national curriculum. We also plan for progression throughout the school so children have the opportunities to further develop themselves as musicians as well as challenge themselves.
Within our whole class teaching, children experience a wide range of musical opportunities with regards to appraising, composing and performing. They
explore a wide range of music. As well as this, a love of music is promoted to include all of these skills from both staff and children.
Children in KS2 also have group instrumental teaching as part of their music curriculum from a music specialist from the Gateshead Schools’ Music service. We have enjoyed learning the Ocarina and Ukulele among other instruments. Having access to a broad range of instruments gives the children a wider experience and gives them the opportunities to explore their musical skills. Children also participate in whole-school singing and performance through class assemblies and celebrations of festivals linked to our wider British Values, for example linked to Christmas, Harvest, Easter, Chinese New Year, and other religious festivals.
As part of our wider school life, we also use cross-curricular opportunities to explore our love of music and musical skills further. We also give children access to a range of extra-curricular activities such as the school choir and school pantomime.
Impact
The children at Winlaton West Lane Community Primary School will have developed a love of music, including composing and performing. Their skills will have progressed in order to have made good progress against the National Curriculum objectives. As well as this, they will have had the opportunities to participate in a range of wider opportunities for music. Music has also been seen to have had a positive impact on well-being and the activities they have participated in should have had a positive impact on their mental health.