Intent:

At Sedgeberrow Church of England First School, we feel that music is essential in ensuring a full, rounded and inspirational curriculum for our children.  We are committed to providing musical opportunities and development for every pupil irrespective of age, gender, race or religious beliefs.  Music is invaluable as a means of developing communication skills, positive social interaction and collaborative working.  It enables children to listen and respond imaginatively, encouraging self-confidence.

Through our music curriculum we aim:

1. to develop life-long awareness, enjoyment and appreciation of music, whatever the learner’s ability.
2. to encourage a use of a variety of instruments to explore ideas and moods.
3. to allow pupils to work individually and in groups sharing ideas with others.
4. to develop evaluation skills through children’s own work and that of others.
5. to involve children in cultural and historical opportunities.
6. in line with our teaching and learning policy, to provide an environment which enables children to reach their true potential within and through music.

 

Implementation

At Sedgeberrow Church of England First School, we follow the ‘Kapow Music Scheme’.  This scheme ensures that our pupils are provided with a holistic approach in which the key areas listed below are woven together to create engaging and enriching learning experiences.  The individual strands are:

• Listening
• Composing
• Performing (including singing)
• The inter-related dimensions of music
• History of Music (KS2)
• Whole Class Instrumental Lessons (KS2)

Each unit of work is taught through a topic to capture children’s imagination, encouraging them to explore music more enthusiastically.  Knowledge and skills are mapped out progressively through each year group, providing children opportunities to build upon previous learning.  Over the course of the scheme, children are taught to sing fluently and expressively, and play tuned and untuned instruments accurately and with control.  Pupils will learn to recognise and name the inter-related dimensions of music:

• Pitch
• Duration
• Tempo
• Timbre
• Structure
• Texture
• Dynamics

Following the Model Music Curriculum Guidance (DfE 2021), Years 3 and 4 have whole class instrumental lessons, learning to play the glockenspiel.  In Year 5, the pupils are afforded the opportunity to learn a different instrument - the recorder.  All classes have timetabled sessions to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum.  Pupils’ progress in music is monitored through both formative and summative assessment opportunities.  In addition to the timetabled lessons, we provide further learning opportunities for music through:

• weekly whole school singing practise
• annual musical involving the whole of Key Stage 2.
• three Christmas productions (EYFS, KS1 and KS2)
• an annual talent show
• Harvest Festival – performed by each class
• musical workshops
• Ukulele Club
• current events e.g. European Language Day
• themed days.
• peripatetic guitar lessons
• trips to see productions, shows, musicals etc;
• multimedia involvement – use of ICT equipment to enhance the arts.

 

Impact

Music at Sedgeberrow Church of England First School develops pupils’:

• knowledge and understanding of the work of composers and performers from a range of times and cultures. 
• understanding of how music is influenced by the wider cultural, social and historical contexts in which it is developed.
• understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music: pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and dynamics.
• ability to understand and correctly use a musical vocabulary.
• understanding of the different ways that music can be written down to support composing and performing activities.

 

Music at Sedgeberrow encourages pupils to:

• be confident performers, composers and listeners.
• express themselves musically whilst at school and beyond.
• appreciate and respect a wide range of musical styles from around the world.
• use music as a tool for expressing and exploring emotions.
• articulate an enthusiasm for music and be able to identify their own musical preferences.

 

Music at Sedgeberrow offers pupils:

• the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.
• opportunities to perform as individuals or as part of a group.
• enriched creative experiences which increase their understanding of music through immersion in an exciting topic-based curriculum.

The structure and quality of the music curriculum at Sedgeberrow Church of England First School ensures that our children will gain a lifelong love of music.