Music Statement

Music is an enjoyable element of the curriculum which engages and excites children. It is a unique subject, different to any other area of the curriculum.

Intent

At St Michael’s, there is an integrated, practical and exploratory approach to musical learning. The interrelated dimensions of music: pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and notation are at the centre of all the learning. They weave through what we teach to encourage the development of musical skills.  The learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing.

'The National Curriculum 2014' has the following aims for pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.
• learn to sing and 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. 

Implementation

Our units of work are taken from the Charanga music scheme and comprise strands of musical learning which correspond with the national curriculum for music:

• Listening and Appraising
• Musical Activities: games, singing, playing instruments, improvisation and composition
• Performing

Musical concepts are taught through repetition. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills. Musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear. The strands of musical learning taught are part of a learning spiral. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established ones. Repeating a musical skill shifts the learning within the spiral which leads to mastery; both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new.

In addition to class teaching, our children also benefit from working with music specialists. These include working with Accent Music and performances at the local High School.

Impact

Children are able to enjoy music in many different ways as a listener, creator and performer. The integral nature of music allows the learner to develop an awareness of others and achieve whilst developing their own self-confidence and self reflection. The children can dissect music and comprehend its parts being able to sing and feel a pulse. Through music children will also develop an understanding of culture and history in relation to individuals and the wider world. The varied programme allows children to discover their own strengths and areas they can improve upon, developing an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them as they continue their interest in music throughout their lives.  

Extra Curricular

Established links with the high schools provide performance opportunities in both KS1 and 2 through the Infant Music Festival, Children of Halton Sing and annual spring concerts. In addition our school choir has been successful for many, many years. Our children have had the opportunity to perform to a public audience at many venues within the local community and further afield including: Halton Stadium, Halliwell Jones Stadium and St George’s Hall in Liverpool.

National Curriculum link:

For more information, here is the link to the National Curriculum for Primary Music.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-music-programmes-of-study