Music

Intent

• To enjoy making music together and to understand that we are all musicians.
• To enable all children to reach their musical potential, whatever their starting points of ability and experience.
• For all children to gain a solid grounding of musical skills and knowledge to equip them to confidently continue their musical journey through secondary school and beyond. We want our children to have the potential to continue or return to the joy of music throughout their lives, in whatever directions their interest takes them; performing, creating or listening.

Music helps me to express myself in so many positive ways

(Kitty - Skyswood pupil)

Implementation

Our music curriculum consists of six main strands, building upon early years’ practices and experiences with carefully considered progression across each strand, creatively addressing and enriching the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum Programmes of Study through a strong emphasis on musical performance. All year groups start their music lessons with a learning check of previous learning, along with warm up exercises that include elements of formal aural training. Children progress through initially learning about crotchet, minim, quavers and semi-quavers, and then moving on to learn about rest, triplets and combinations. This leads onto melodic work and aural rhythm recognition. Pupils are taught to listen critically and to focus on the elements of music as well as listening out for different timbres, textures and other features.

Music lessons bring us all together like one big, happy family

(Alice - Skyswood pupil)

Impact

During their time at Skyswood, children learn how to sing, compose, improvise play and perform to a high level. This gives them core skills of vocal, rhythmic, melodic and chordal playing, which enables all children to fully participate in class lessons and develop a passion for music that they can carry forward to secondary school and beyond. Their general musicianship skills of pulse, rhythm and pitch, and their understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music are further enhanced through the units of study and opportunities for composition and performance.

The immense challenges that I face and embrace at Skyswood stretch my learning further than I could ever have imagined possible. I am particularly proud of my achievements in music

(Christian - Skyswood pupil)

Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs

At Skyswood Primary and Nursery School we recognise and celebrate the diversity of our pupils, enabling all pupils to fully access musical opportunities and participate to their full potential. Music is a right for every child, whatever their circumstances or barriers that they might face. The key to inclusion in music is very much centred around quality-first teaching that adapts to the needs of the individual child.

Adaptations may take the form of personalised resources, carefully selected instruments, or support for children with sensory needs. Our teaching of music considers the needs of pupils with SEND in terms of the pace of lessons, children’s previous experiences, skills and knowledge, and in choosing accessible repertoires and formats. We have high expectations of all pupils. Our SEND pupils enjoy their music lessons and make good progress as a result of our inclusive approach to music throughout the school.

Music Skills and Knowledge Progression

Music Long Term Plan

Music EYFS