Music
Intent
At Great Wishford, children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. We are committed to developing a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. We aim to provide children with the opportunity to progress to the next level of their creative learning.
Implementation
Our music curriculum ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as Collective Worships, various concerts and performances and the learning of instruments. Through the musical program Charanga, teachers are able to produce inclusive lessons for all children to access the musical curriculum in a fun and engaging way, further promoting a love of learning music. Teachers deliver music following the Charanga programme, designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools. Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to question and explore it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom children we aim for the children to learn how to play the recorder, glockenspiels and a variety of percussion instruments. We are building up our musical resources at present to allow this to happen as soon as possible. Playing various instruments enables children to use a range of methods to create notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. They also learn how to compose, focusing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.
Impact
Music enables children to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer. Children will have the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas, acknowledging and respecting that these may vary and that this is positive. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. Through our music curriculum, children develop life skills such as self-confidence, risk-taking, teamwork and pride in what they do, helping them to aspire and enjoy success at Great Wishford and in their future life.
In addition to the music curriculum, there are further opportunities for children to pursue a passion for the subject. Visiting peripatetic teachers offer tuition in piano and guitar but these lessons incur extra costs. Some children choose to take grade exams if and when they feel ready.
