Music
Barley Hill Primary School Music Intent
At Barley Hill Primary School, our vision for music is for it to be creative, varied and include key knowledge and terminology. The children should have opportunities to both listen to and create music in a range of ways, using different instruments and experience composition, performance, solo and group opportunities.
Nurture: Our music curriculum promotes a growth mindset and encourages children to have a go. Music is a good media for experimentation and trying new things, which is encouraged and taught throughout. Teamwork is encouraged in creating group compositions and performing together, where it is essential to listen to one another. Pupils are taught that everyone's musical tastes vary and this is okay as well as having opportunities to discover and share preferences, respecting other's opinions.
Curiosity: Children are encouraged to see instruments and think 'I wonder...' They explore different sounds our bodies can make including vocally and body percussion and are encouraged to try new ideas. When listening to music children are encouraged to explore deeper, asking questions and considering if they like/ dislike the music and why.
Diversity: Music has a very broad background and is part of almost every culture. This is reflected when choosing composers and music to present to the children. Cross-curricular links are encouraged such as looking at music from different festivals during RE or from specific time periods in history. Composers are chosen to cover different ages, genders and ethnicities and period and modern music is explored. Different careers in music are considered, especially into Key Stage 2, looking at 'behind the scenes' options as well as performing.
Ambition: Music has a challenging vocabulary and notation and this is explored from a young age. Correct terminology is introduced, with definitions and examples, and children are encouraged to use this.
The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate music.
This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performances and the learning of instruments.
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, from all four main instrument groups of wind, strings, percussion and keyboards. In doing so understand the different principle of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. They also learn how to compose focusing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical element.
Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows students to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might aspire 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 and understand how it can enrich their lives.
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.
Long Term Planning and Progression of Knowledge & Skills EYFS - Year 6
Please note to see the Barley Hill Way Curriculum on how we have ordered the units within Year Groups to fit the needs of our children and make links with the wider curriculum where necessary. Year 4 also learn Brass Instruments for the year.
