Music
Music at Breckon Hill Primary School
Curriculum Intent
“Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.”
National Curriculum, 2014
At Breckon Hill we believe that music is a unique way of communicating which can inspire and motivate children. It is a vehicle for personal expression and it can play an important part in personal development. Music plays an important part in helping children develop a strong sense of belonging and because of our high mobility and diversity, we are committed to ensuring belonging is developed at every opportunity. Our curriculum aims to provide opportunities for all children to hear, sing, play, create, perform and enjoy music.
The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
- perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
- learn to sing and to 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 interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations
Curriculum Implementation
As musicians, we want our children to develop:
- A musical understanding underpinned by high levels of aural perception, internalisation and knowledge of music.
- Very good awareness and appreciation of different musical traditions and genres.
- The ability to give precise written and verbal explanations, using musical terminology effectively, accurately and appropriately.
- A passion for and commitment to a range of musical activities.
The teaching and implementation of the Music Curriculum is taught at Breckon Hill through ‘Charanga Musical School’, which enables children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills. Within music and through the use of ‘Charanga Musical School’, over time, the children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts as they move along the spiral learning curve. In order for pupils to gain conceptual understanding of their musical learning and to provide evidence of this, a repetition-based approach and a more secure, deeper teaching and learning assessment system is implemented. Links to other areas of learning and subjects through our curriculum, are made where possible.
The Music Curriculum is further enhanced through weekly singing lessons for all children, provided Teacher, Mrs Emma Sheratton.
The Reception and Y2 children receive ‘Snappy Classroom’ sessions through the Tees Valley Music Service.
Year 3 children learn to play the recorder, Y4 Boomwhackers, Y5 Ukulele, Y6 Samba.
Curriculum Impact
Music is assessed and developed through the use of Foundation Subject Formative Assessment. This ensures progression throughout Key Stage 1 & 2. E
The impact of the music curriculum is monitored by the subject leader and evidenced in her annual portfolio.
Our overarching aim is that we enrich children with a Music Curriculum that excites, motivates and promotes creativity for all of our pupils.