Music

Music at our academy engages, inspires and challenges pupils. It equips them with the knowledge and skills to appraise, perform, compose and record their musical experiences.

Children have the opportunity to express their own point of view through termly music weeks. Pupils develop their knowledge and thought processes through performance, composition and appraisal. Pupils look at significant musical figures in history and compare to modern-day musicians. 

The music curriculum reflects the needs of our pupils and broadens and deepens their vocabulary. It develops greater oracy skills and helps them to self-regulate their emotions. Thus, improving their mental health.

In order for pupils to master their skills, we draw on the strength and expertise of local music services. This is to strengthen the core elements.

In Nursery, we use music, rhyme and rhythm to encourage pupil’s listening skills and focus. Music is used frequently within each nursery session. It is used to support routines, build confidence, as a celebration, to support early motor skills and as a calming resource.

In Reception, pupils are encouraged to confidently express themselves to music. They use a range of instruments to communicate feeling. Singing and listening to music and rhyme is an essential part of our early years curriculum. Pupils are encouraged and supported to perform a favourite song in groups or as a solo. This develops their confidence to perform for an audience. During our explicit music lesson, pupils are introduced to pulse and rhythm and begin to recognise this in familiar songs and rhymes.

In Key Stage 1, pupils explore the basic principles of rhythm, pulse and melody. Pupils have the opportunity to compose using percussion instruments. They start recording their music using pictorial representation. In addition to this, they learn a tuned instrument – bamboo tamboo in Year 1 and recorder in Year 2.

In Key Stage 2, pupils build upon their initial Key Stage 1 skills with increasing confidence and control. They have opportunities to write accompaniments to familiar songs. they can develop their own experiment pieces of work and start to compose in parts. Pupils learn standard notation and apply this through weekly ukulele sessions. In Lower Key Stage 2, pupils take part in weekly whole-class ukulele sessions. In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils have the opportunity to further develop their mastery of the ukulele.

We celebrate pupil’s enthusiasm for music through the opportunity to audition for our Key Stage 2 choir. We also hold annual nativities and end of year performances. Children take part in weekly whole-school singing. Ukulele concerts are performed for parents and children can take part in Young Voices.