Silkstone Primary School

Music

Intent

At Silkstone Primary it is our intent that we teach high quality music that 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. Through singing songs and performing instruments, children learn about the structure and organisation of music and we teach them to listen and to appreciate different genres. Children also develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm and encourage children to discuss music using these terms. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts. Music education supports our key driver of mental health.

Implementation

Our pupils will learn that music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performances and the learning of instruments. As pupils progress, they develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon. The Charanga scheme of work is used from Year 1 - 6 to ensure a wide exposure to different genres of music, with lots of practical opportunities to explore and develop as musicians and singers. The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. The school also has whole class ensemble teaching. In Year 2, the pupils learn the ocarina, in Year 3, children are taught the recorder, in year 4 the ukulele by a peripatetic teache and in years 5 and 6 the keyboard and Samba drums. By learning instruments the children understand how to read basic music notation. They also learn how to compose focussing 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. Additional opportunities are offered in music, such as Young Voices, the key stage 2 choirs and projects with organisations such as Opera North.

Impact

Children enjoy listening to and creating music. Children will have the opportunity to foster their musical flare and use this as a form of expression. Children will achieve age related expectations in music at the end of their cohort year.

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Simeon and his flute

Simeon came to school and played his flute in assembly for everyone. He then went around the classes playing for the children and sharing his love of music. In the afternoon Simeon kindly played for our Senior Citizens at their Afternoon Tea. We loved having Simeon in school. He sent us a lovely message to say;

'My time at your school yesterday was wonderful from start to finish. The children were a credit to you ad their parents. So polite, thoughtful, funny and kind. Thank you so much for everything you are doing at Silkstone Primary School. A remarkable school full of remarkable people'

We hope he will be back to visit us soon.