Music

Intent 

At South Wootton Junior School, we believe that the music curriculum should provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music whilst developing skills and appreciation for music. In our school, we encourage children’s understanding and enjoyment of music through an active involvement in listening, composing, improvising and performing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. We strive to provide a range of opportunities beyond the National Curriculum to develop children’s appreciation for music including opportunities to participate in guitar and piano lessons, musical workshops and national opportunities such as Young Voices. We also work closely with the local Music Hub to take advantage of opportunities such as the whole-class instrument teaching for a term in Year 4. Singing is an important part of our school and by the end of Year 6, children should be able to sing in harmony with musical delivery. Weekly singing and class assemblies expose children to a range of songs to allow them to practice and express such skills. We also have opportunities for children to develop their singing and performance ability through our school Choir, which regularly performs throughout the year, encouraging the children to experience the thrill of performing as well as allowing us to support local musical events developed for children in the area.

Implementation 

Teachers deliver music following the Get Set 4 Music programme, designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools. Lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. The elements of music are taught in 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. Get Set 4 Music offers plenty of opportunities for children to listen to a wide range of genres, with chance to discuss and share music that is important in their own lives. In the classroom, children learn how to play a variety of percussion instruments, enabling children to use a range of methods to create music, as well as how to read basic notation. They also learn how to compose and improvise, focusing 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. 

Impact 

Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer. Children have the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas, acknowledging and respecting that these may vary and that this is positive. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. Through exposure to a wide range of musical styles and genres, children develop a life-long love of music and a desire to continue their musical journey into the next stage of their education and beyond.