Intent

Music is an integral and well-resourced part of life at Fellside.  Our music curriculum inspires creativity and self-expression, and encourages our children on their musical journeys as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others.   We hope to foster a life-long love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music. By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers and performers and as composers they become confident, reflective musicians. 

The aims of our music curriculum are to develop pupils who:

• Can sing and use their voices individually and in a group;
• Create and compose music on their own and with others;
• Use technology appropriately when composing;
• Have opportunities to learn a tuned musical instrument;
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated;
• Listen to, review and evaluate the work of great composers and musicians from a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions;
• Enjoy and have an appreciation of a range of different musical styles e.g. Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pop, Rock etc.
• Use and understand musical language and include musical features in their own compositions;
• Make judgements about the quality of music, citing their preferences;
• Have opportunities to play a wide variety of un-tuned percussion instruments;
• Have different opportunities to take part in performances and in front of audiences.

Implementation

Our music curriculum provides opportunities for children to sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in weekly classroom activities (some of which are provided through our chosen scheme of work, Charanga) as well as through weekly singing assemblies, participation in concerts and performances, and through learning a tuned instrument.  All children have the opportunity to learn an instrument during their time at Fellside: currently the ocarina in Year 2 followed by violin in Year 3, these lessons being delivered by our visiting peripatetic music teachers, from Gateshead Music Service.  In providing these opportunities, we hope that children will continue to study a musical instrument across Key Stage 2 – and many do.  As children head into Key Stage 2, their options to study an instrument include guitar; flute and clarinet (as well as continuing with violin). 

The diverse elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use the language of music to discuss it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom students learn how to play various un-tuned and tuned percussion instruments and in doing so they understand the different principles of creating notes, as well as how to devise and read their own musical scores and 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, vocal sounds and technology is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the need of a traditional musical instrument.

We take every opportunity to prioritise the importance of music across the school day.  There are weekly singing practice assemblies, for example, and on entry to all of our collective worship gatherings, children will hear a piece of music from a wide variety of genres, including some facts about the composer.  Staff often use background music in class, and even whilst eating lunch in order to promote a desired mood or atmosphere.  In so doing, children learn to appreciate music and appreciate its benefits.  We also value the opportunity for children to play/perform to their peers, both as a means of perfecting performance skills, but also as a means of inspiring and motivating others. 

Impact

Through access to our curriculum, Fellside children enjoy music – not only from the point of performance and participation, but also through its appreciation and evaluation.  They benefit from understanding how music contributes to life’s richness and how cultures and history continue to greatly influence musical trends today.  Fellside children understand that music can be reflective of our emotions and they capitalise on this in terms of how they use it to self-regulate and reduce feelings of anxiety.  Equally, Fellside children appreciate that music improves concentration and on-task behaviour. 

Formative assessment in music is used effectively to track outcomes and curriculum standards.  A series of progressive statements for acquisition of skills and knowledge in music is used successfully by staff to determine outcomes over time.  In addition verbal feedback is effectively used in the classroom to ensure that lesson expectations are met and that the needs of individuals are managed.  Pupil conferencing is also used to support the continuing high-quality of our curriculum offer and ensure that we are effective in delivering our ‘know more and remember more’ aspiration.

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