Music

Intent

• To have knowledge of some of the world’s great composers and musicians and their works.
• To play, perform, compose and improvise music from a range of genres, styles and traditions.
• To understand and explore how music is created and communicated.

At Carr, we want our children to be passionate about music and get enjoyment and excitement from the subject. We believe that music is an inclusive subject that plays a vital role in every child’s education; it is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. Music is a tool for personal expression, and we believe it can play an important part in the personal development of pupils as individuals. We aim to encourage children’s curiosity as they ask questions and explore the role of music in different cultures and societies around the world. At Carr, we aim to foster a love of singing which we believe is important for both physical and mental wellbeing as well as broadening spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness. It also plays an important part in helping children feel part of a community. Furthermore, we aim to provide many performance opportunities as we believe that plays an important role in building children’s self belief, self confidence and resilience.

Implementation

To ensure that we deliver our intention and cover all objectives set out in the National Curriculum, the music lead undertakes learning walks regularly to analyse music teaching across school and to ensure consistency, coverage and progression. We use the Charanga Original scheme of work to deliver Music across school because it allows us to fully cover the National Curriculum, ensuring that pupils make progress in an integrated, practical and exploratory approach to musical learning. Charanga provides a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills, which we have found works well for our children. The lessons in the scheme expose the children to a wide range of musical styles with opportunities to listen, perform, compose and improvise. The children enjoy learning using the scheme as the lessons are engaging and challenging, while also offering support for children with SEND or those who lack confidence in this subject area. The music curriculum is currently delivered by one teacher throughout the school, however this scheme fully supports teachers who are non-music specialists to deliver the music curriculum effectively.

Planning for Progression
Teachers follow the Charanga Original scheme of work, ensuring all areas of the National Curriculum are covered. Lessons are taught in a progressive sequence meaning that the children are building on prior knowledge and consolidating skills, while slowly being introduced to new concepts.

Recording work
Music is a very practical and creative subject and therefore work is rarely recorded in books. Videos are taken to evidence work and for assessment purposes. Photographs of the children are taken throughout units and these are made into a collage to add to their scrapbooks each half term.

Singing
All children have access to a weekly Singing Assembly where they learn, practise and perform songs. Singing is also encouraged in all areas of the curriculum to help develop memory, timing, sustained concentration and to encourage listening.

Carr Junior School Assembly Music Timetable
Developing children’s knowledge of significant pieces of music is an important part of their education at Carr Junior School. As a result, we have a 3-year cycle of assembly music which pupils listen to as they enter and leave the hall for assembly. A different piece of music is played each half term. Where possible a video of an orchestra playing these pieces is shown on the hall screen to support pupils’ understanding of the music and the parts played by sections of the orchestra. Teachers leading singing assembly will discuss the music and refer to a poster at the front of the hall about the piece and its composer.

Instrumental Lessons
We offer both group and individual lessons in brass, woodwind and guitars. One year group is also offered whole class instrumental tuition.

Visits and Visitors
Throughout the year we organise music workshops – where possible linked to the Big Idea – where children are taught by specialist music teachers. We also take part in projects such as Young Voices and The Big Sing where the children learn a range of songs before performing them to an audience at specific venues with other schools.

Extra-curricular music
We have Carr Choir for children to take part in and explore their musical interests in singing and performing further. Children who learn to play brass or woodwind instruments come together to perform in Carr Band in assemblies throughout the year to showcase their skills.

Support
Music is an inclusive subject but at times children can feel reluctant or self conscious. Support is provided by the class teacher, critical friends or resources in the safe, friendly and nurturing environment of the classroom.

Assessment
Formative assessment takes place throughout all lessons to support children who are finding the work challenging and deepening the understanding of others to ensure all children make progress. Summative assessment takes place at the end of each unit and is recorded on O-track.

Impact

• Children have a passion and enthusiasm for music.
• Children use their curiosity to ask questions to extend their knowledge in a safe and nurturing environment.
• Children have high expectations of themselves in music and aspire to achieve.

Impact is also measured by analysing the quality of the children’s music work, which is recorded at the end of each academic year on O-track. At Carr, we are continually monitoring the impact of teaching on learning through learning walks as well as pupil and staff voices.

Documents

Music Long Term Plan – 2023-2024

Music Progression of Skills

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6