Music at Earlsmead

Music Statement of Intent

At Earlsmead Primary School, we aim to engage, motivate 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.

Music teaching at Earlsmead follows the requirements of the National Curriculum for Music; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum; ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge and skills. Music is a unique way of communicating, it is a vehicle for personal expression, and it can play an important part in personal and cognitive development. Music at Earlsmead aims to reflect the culture and society that we live in.

We recognise that many of our pupils do not get the opportunity to learn how to play musical instruments at home. Our aim is to give the children this opportunity and opportunities to enjoy and take part in music in a variety of ways.

The national curriculum provides an outline of core knowledge around which is used to develop exciting and stimulating themes and lessons to promote the development of pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school Curriculum.

The core skills of music are taught by specialist music teachers at our school.

Implementation:

At Earlsmead, we recognise that musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear and that children do not learn in straight lines. Repeating a musical skill does not mean their progress is slowing down or their development is moving backwards, it enables pupils to reinforce musical understanding in order to improve the quality of their musicianship.

Our progression map allows children to develop new music skills and concepts whilst also revisiting and embedding established musical skills and concepts. At Earlsmead, we recognise that achieving mastery in Music means gaining both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts whilst also learning something new. The progression document ensures the curriculum is covered and the skills, knowledge and vocabulary taught are progressive from year group to year group.

Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at Earlsmead and all pupils participate in performances throughout the year. Pupils also take part in singing assemblies and pupils from reception to Year 6 perform at our Christmas concerts. We also have strong links with Haringey Music Service and perform with the wherever possible but always at their concert at The Royal Albert Hall,

At Earlsmead, music teaching is not only focused on performance but also providing our pupils with an understanding and appreciation for music. Through our music lessons, children study a wide range of musical styles, genres and composers from a range of musical periods.

We provide all children in Year 4 with the opportunity to learn a musical instrument which they can continue to do in Year 5. We have a strong KS2 Choir which meets each week.

Impact:

Our music Curriculum is high quality, well thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression, building on and embedding current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different musical components and like in other subjects, discrete teaching of vocabulary also forms part of the units of work.

If children are achieving the knowledge and skills in lessons, then they are deemed to be making good or better progress.