Music
"The language of music is common to all generations and nations; it is understood by everybody, since it is understood with the heart."
– Gioacchino Rossini
Intent
The music curriculum at Ladypool aims to inspire and challenge all of our pupils by equipping them with the knowledge and skills required. As pupils progress they will actively engage with music, exploring and listening to a range of famous composers and performers and developing their composing and improvisation skills. Pupils are also given opportunities to develop their singing and performing skills in a range of supportive and encouraging environments.
Why do we teach music?
- to inspire a love of music in our children
- to develop self-confidence when performing
- to develop listening skills
- to develop critical engagement with music
Implementation
At Ladypool, we use the Charanga platform as the main tool for planning our music lessons. Children will learn a range of songs during their time at Ladypool; songs for different purposes and in different contexts (e.g. the national anthem, Christmas songs, and songs learned in phases and as a whole school - Sign2Sing). Children will develop their knowledge of how music is created and learn how to create their own music using both physical instruments and electronic devices. As they progress through the school, children will build up their music vocabulary, with a specific focus in Year 4 where they will be given weekly whole class instrumental lessons by a music service specialist. Any child with a particular passion and/or aptitude for music will in Years 5 & 6 be offered weekly instrumental tuition, funded by the school from a music specialist.
All of our children are expected to take part in weekly singing assemblies and perform with their individual class in a themed musical assembly across the year. All of our children listen and reflect on a music of the week piece in their class.
NC aims for music at KS2
By the end of KS2, children should be able to:
- Listen to music / explore great composers from a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions.
- Perform music in a range of genres and styles
- Sing / use their voices to create and compose music on their own and with others
- Understand and explore how music is created through inter-related dimensions (pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure)
- Use correct musical terminology when discussing the music they perform and listen to.
- Have had the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.
Our children learn the following instruments:
- Percussion instruments in Reception
- Glockenspiels in Year 1
- Recorders in Year 2 and Year 3
- Cello/ violin in Year 4 (lessons taught by Music Services teachers)
- Ukulele in Year 5
Impact
Our children leave Ladypool with:
- The knowledge that anyone can be a musician or singer and knowledge of a range of careers available in the field of music.
- Experience of a wide range of music styles and performances including those they can identify and relate to.
- Enjoyment of at least one style of music.
- The ability to confidently discuss music using the appropriate vocabulary.
- The confidence to use technology to create music, record and review.
- The ability to play and compose a simple melody on a tuned instrument.
- The confidence to perform to others with the aim of creating the greatest effect for their audience.
- The knowledge that music can bring happiness and joy.
