INTENT
At Latchford St James CE Primary School, it is our intent that we make music an enjoyable learning experience. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children. Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. Through singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music. We teach them to listen and to appreciate different forms of music. Children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm and encourage children to discuss music using these terms.
The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
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
learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop their musical potential and we aim to nurture and encourage musical development across the school.
IMPLEMENTATION
We use the Charanga Musical School scheme of work throughout school. This provides an integrated, practical, exploratory and child led approach to musical learning through the use of engaging and exciting lesson plans and resources. Our music lessons ensure students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. The interrelated dimensions of music weave through the units to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities and performing. Charanga Musical School units of work enable children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills.
IMPACT
The Musical School assessment framework uses a Plan-Do-Check-Review approach for teachers to follow.The subject coordinator monitors pupil progress against the framework, carries out monitoring and learning walks as well as speaking to pupils about their learning.
Music is promoted and celebrated throughout school in whole school assemblies, class performances, an annual talent show and seasonal celebrations. Children at Latchford St James have opportunities to participate in musical experiences beyond the curriculum such as ‘Boteler Outloud’, ‘PAN’, ‘Summer Extravaganza’ and Choir events.
