VISION 

To develop an appreciation and understanding of how music had changed over time and perform their own and others’ compositions.  

INTENT 

At Cherry Orchard Primary, children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, improvising 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 development.   

Through the study of music, driven through a key question and well-sequenced planning, the children will understand how music has changed over time and be able to perform using their voices and a range of musical instruments. Units have been designed carefully to expose children to a wide range of musical pieces and styles from across the globe.   

All learners, regardless of background and needs, will be exposed to the music curriculum, and will listen to and appraise a range of musical pieces and styles and know how to compose and improvise. Children will learn how to be a musician and know how to read simple musical notation, use a range of musical terms and know and name some great composers and musicians and the time period they influenced.   

IMPLEMENTATION 

The elements of music are taught inclusively in classroom lessons so that children are able to use the language of music to dissect it, understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. Frequent retrieval of key skills and knowledge enables children to embed previous learning and make connections to the wider curriculum. 

In the classroom, children will sing, play, compose and perform. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds forms part of the classroom, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument. Listening with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality musical pieces and experimenting with, creating, selecting and combining sounds will ensure children use the inter-related dimensions of music.   

At Cherry Orchard, Year 3 children will be taught how to play an instrument through expert tutorage, and throughout KS2, children will be taught to understand the different principles of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read staff notation. Extra-curricular clubs, such as Young Voices and ukulele club, give children the chance to develop their musical skills and create opportunities for performing to an audience.  Children will also learn how to compose, focussing on the various dimensions of music, which, in turn, will contribute to their understanding when listening, playing and analysing.    

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 a listener, as a creator or as a performer. Children have the opportunity to discuss and share their thoughts, opinions and ideas, acknowledging and respecting that these may vary and that this is good thing. They can dissect music and comprehend its structure and can progress from singing and finding the pulse to developing an appreciation of harmony and creating ostinatos with growing complexity. Our Music curriculum will foster a love and increasing enthusiasm for music amongst our children; create opportunities to grow children’s confidence and performance; and foster a potential for life-long musical study.