INTENT – The Music Curriculum
Hunton & Arrathorne Community Primary School is a musical school; pupils love music and are successful at it. As well as the curriculum diet, pupils are exposed to musical events throughout the year and have previously had excellent success in the ‘Wensleydale Tournament of Song’. Pupils come together weekly for a singing assembly, take part in regular musical productions and have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through our links with the NYCC music service. Many pupils further their interest and study of Music privately and at home.
At our school, children gain a thorough understanding of what music is by playing, listening, composing, analysing and evaluating across a wide variety of styles, traditions, genres and historical periods. We are committed to ensuring children are exposed to all types of music and making our curriculum spark interest in the subject, which the children take with them throughout their life. We are committed to ensuring children have access to a range of musical styles and see music as a form of creative expression.
In terms of our individual children, they enjoy taking part in musical events within the community. We have recognised that they lack exposure to wider musical events and music plays a big part in our ambition for pupils when they leave the school, both in terms of performing, learning an instrument and exposure to a wide variety of music.
IMPLEMENTATION-The Music Curriculum
The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. Music is taught through the Charanga Music Schools programme from Reception – Year 6. During either Year 3 or Year 4, the children also develop instrumental skills through specialist music teaching from North Yorkshire Music Service. Presently, pupils in Year 3/4 have weekly saxophone lessons.
Music is embedded in the classroom activities (formal music lessosn) as well as the weekly singing assemblies, concerts and performances, extra-curricular activities and the learning of musical instruments. Pupils have the opportunity to perform at least three times per year, culminating in a staged musical production in the summer. Appreciation of music is further developed through ‘Music of the Week’ which is promoted in assemblies and incorporates the very best of what has been written and said. The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom, students learn how to play an instrument progressively, also building on their understanding of musical notation.
Substantive knowledge in Music focuses on developing children’s knowledge and skills in order for them to become competent musicians. This is achieved through deliberate practice and learning about music from a range of genres, styles, periods and artists.
Disciplinary knowledge brings in the nine interrelated dimensions of music (above) and how this is used when singing, composing, improvising and playing.
Music lessons are taught weekly and, combined with our singing assembly, we ensure pupils have at least 1 hour of music per week.
IMPACT- The Music Curriculum
Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows students to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. The integral nature of music and the learner creates an enormously rich palette from which a student may access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. They have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.
