Music
Intent
At St. Andrew’s, the intention is for all children to experience being involved in a wide range of musical activities through: listening, evaluating, playing, creating, exploring, singing, composing and performing. It is our intention for music lessons to be fun and inspiring, engaging the children with music to listen to, songs, lyrics and movement. Our aim at St. Andrew’s is to ensure that children are given optimal opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of music across a wide variety of styles, traditions and musical genres. At St. Andrew’s every child is given the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and to sing as part of a larger group. We are committed to ensuring that children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community. We regularly take children out of school to perform to various audiences and participate in events at significant music halls and venues in our city. It is our intention for music to enhance the lives of our children, and in turn for pupils to develop musical skills which they can use to enhance the lives of others in the wider community.
Implementation
Our pupils will be inspired and engaged by music education. Music lessons will inspire pupils to develop a love of music and for many, develop their talent as musicians, and in turn increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. At St. Andrew’s, the Charanga scheme of work is used as a basis from Years Reception – Year 6. We have chosen this scheme due to its richness, progression and user-friendly element for staff who are less confident in teaching music. We can also ensure that we are fulfilling the aims for musical learning stated in the National Curriculum:
Charanga includes many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre.
Charanga provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices, using body percussion and whole body actions, and learning to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to sing, explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform.
All children from Reception to Year 6 access a 25 minute weekly singing assembly, led by a specialist music teacher, where they sing as part of a larger group. All children learn to play the recorder in Year 4 as part of the ‘Wider Opportunities’ scheme. All children are given the opportunity to learn to play an additional instrument in KS2, which includes brass instruments and string instruments including the guitar. All children from Year 3 to Year 6 are invited to join our successful choir.
All children in KS2 are taken to the Bridgewater Hall and/or the Royal Exchange Theatre to sing with other children or to watch a concert performed by the Hallé Orchestra. All children perform twice a year as part of a school concert, either by singing or playing instruments.
Impact
Children at St. Andrew’s have access to a varied programme, which allows pupils to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. Music lessons and the wider musical opportunities offered at St. Andrew’s enrich children’s learning in ways such as: achievement, exercising creativity, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, communication, critical thinking and self-reflection.
Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to pupils individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children can sing, and understand and use a wide range of musical terms through regular lessons from a specialist music teacher. Children at St. Andrew’s are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - either as listener, creator or performer. They bring pleasure to others in the school family and the wider community through performance, knowledge and enthusiasm.
Music Knowledge and Skills Progression - Reception
Music Knowledge and Skills Progression - Year 1
Music Knowledge and Skills Progression - Year 2
Music Knowledge and Skills Progression - Year 3
Music Knowledge and Skills Progression - Year 4