Intent
At Shortlanesend School, children gain a firm understanding of what music is through a constant range of listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of topics as part of our immersive curriculum. These learning opportunities provide exposure to a range of styles, traditions and musical genres.
We are committed to developing enjoyment and curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the importance of all types of music, and how we should all respect for the role that music plays in different people's lives. During the musical journey through our school our children appreciate the value and importance of music in the wider community, and communities through history and around our world. Sequential planning of lessons ensures all children are able to refine and improve their musical skills, knowledge and experiences in a variety of different contexts. This holds true to our school ethos:
Smile - Learn - Excel
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
• Be taught to sing, create and compose music
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated.
Implementation
The majority of our teaching is taken from the 'Charanga' music scheme. Our music curriculum ensures that students have consistent and constant opportunity to listen, sing, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in classroom activities as well as our weekly singing assembly, termly class assembly, end of term class productions and other performance opportunities - for example we hold a yearly inter-house performer competition.
The school is keen to signpost children to the learning of instruments outside of their opportunities which exist in lessons. We have worked with The Cornwall Music Service to deliver whole class instrument teaching in previous years. The school hosts Rock Steady teachers once a week to provide further exposure to learning an instrument.
Classroom lessons are planned to ensure a progression of skills, knowledge and vocabulary through the children's journey through our school. These three elements of music are taught in our 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.
Children progress with their confidence and understanding of music through various opportunities to listen and appreciate a wide range of musical styles through cross curricular activities and stand alone lessons. They also learn how to compose by focusing on different dimensions of music. Performing and composing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the pupils’ understanding of musical elements. Children are challenged to reflect on their music knowledge and question themselves how do they know more, remember more and understand more.
Impact
Shortlanesned School provides all our children with a range of learning experiences which create confident performers who maximise the knowledge and understanding they acquire through their journey through our school. Whilst here with us, children have access to a varied musical programme, which allows them to access fundamental abilities such as achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection.
Through Music and as part of our immersive curriculum children develop an understanding of culture and history. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, performer or creator. They can dissect music and appreciate all its many beautiful parts.
