Music
Music Curriculum Intent
“Music is a universal language that the whole world speaks,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
At Westerton Primary Academy, we understand that music can inspire and motivate children, and play an important role in their personal development. Music can also help children develop a greater appreciation of the world we live in, by understanding different cultures and societies through the universal language of music. We intend that our children should master music so much that they can have careers in music and use music effectively in their daily lives.
Our children will be taught music in a way that ensures a clear progression of skills and follows a ‘cumulative learning model’ where they build on previous learning. They will gain experience, knowledge and skills of a wide range of dimensions of music in a way that will enhance their learning opportunities.
We deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, in line with national requirements, whic enables pupils to:
- Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genre styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.
- Learn to sing and use their voices.
- Create and compose music on their own and alongside their peers.
- Have opportunities to learn a musical instrument, use technology properly and to progress to the next level of musical excellence.
- Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicates, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
Curriculum Implementation
At Westerton, we follow a key scheme of work to allow lessons to have both the high standards we expect and sequential learning. Staff follow the Kapow scheme of work from EYFS to Year 6, allowing for continuity. The scheme has high quality lessons and was chosen after much research into the delivery of music. Staff are given CPD to deliver a high-quality curriculum and understand that all learning must be adapted to their specific context, allowing for professional judgement to take place.
Through this scheme, the children learn to play the glockenspiel from Year 1 to Year 6. This allows the children to become increasingly familiar with this instrument so that by the time they leave Westerton, they make music confidently. They are also supplemented with other instruments such as untuned percussion, recorders, xylophones, guitars and keyboards.
In Year 4, all children access whole-class instrumental teaching through a professional music teacher. In this section of learning, they use the xylophone which allows for continuity with their prior glockenspiel learning to play and perform. In Year 2, all children access whole-class recorder teaching from Westerton staff. In Year 5, all children access whole-class guitar teaching through a professional music teacher.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Staff at Westerton understand how imperative the Early Years are for children’s future development. This crucial stage of children’s lives will form the foundations for subsequent learning. As such, we follow objectives in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Development Matters (2021) documents, produced by the Department of Education.
Key Stages 1 and 2
Our curriculum allows for children to:
- 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 use their voices to create and compose music on their own and with others, learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and 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.
Extra Curriculum Musical Activities
- Peripatetic tuition delivered by specialist teachers. This takes the form of small group and sometimes 1:1 tuition (paid extra).
- Choirs led in school by teaching staff.
- Orchestra, delivered by teaching staff, where children gain an insight into ensemble playing and develop their musicality.
- Young Voices and Leeds Schools Music Association offer choir and instrumental performances. Children become part of the wider music community and play as part of a city-wide orchestra and choir.
- At St Mary’s Church, children and staff show Christmas community spirit by performing a concert together.
- Musical Evening is our school’s biggest annual event, where children showcase all their musical talent and skills for a full evening performance.
