MUSIC

 Music Curriculum - Intent

Music is a wonderfully diverse subject: creative, practical and best learned through a direct engagement with musical experiences.  At Marden Primary Academy, every child will engage in learning about music through a broad and balanced curriculum, but also learn through music and by making music.  Collectively, we challenge ourselves to ensure that all children are provided with a range of opportunities to develop their understanding of how music works but also how it conveys meaning.  All children are able to continuously improve and achieve through learning how to play a musical instrument and how to sing at advanced levels so that they are equipped with a lifelong love of music which can be played on their own and with others.  Our uncompromising ambition is for every child to experience the transformative effect of music through events and opportunities which provide them with a personal understanding of the joy and power of music.

 Implementation

The music curriculum at Marden Primary Academy is taught, where possible, within the transdisciplinary themes of our PYP (Primary Years Programme) in order to allow ambitious, challenging and creative opportunities to key concepts, skills and knowledge.  However, where authentic links cannot be made, the music curriculum will continue to be taught discretely in order to ensure depth of coverage and balance.

• We consistently use the interactive teaching and learning platform ‘Charanga’ in order to fulfil children’s understanding of music, creative exploration of musical ideas, and developing strong evaluative skills.  This is in line with the new Model Music Curriculum.

• Every child will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument with a professional music teacher at no cost to the family.  This takes place in year 5 and is provided through ‘Whole Class Instrumental Teaching’ (Music Plus) , a Government-funded project delivered by Kent Music School.

• Every child at Marden Primary Academy has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument across the year as a part of their weekly music learning.  Children also have regular opportunities to perform both to their peers but also to the wider school community.

• Children at Marden have access to a wide range of resources in order to support their learning opportunities to appreciate, improvise, compose and perform.

• Teachers use the foundation assessment sheets in order to regularly assess learning and identify gaps, next steps or opportunities for learning.  This is routinely monitored by the subject leader for music.

• The subject leader maintains close relationships with Kent Music through the Maidstone Primary School Network meetings, ensuring availability of CPD for teaching staff as well as local music competitions, ensembles and events.

• All children have the opportunity to attend a weekly whole-school singing assembly, exposing them to a wide repertoire of musical styles and enabling them to sing in unison, harmony, rounds and parts.

• All children have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular musical activities such as the school choir, Young Voices and a drama club. 

• Strong links to the community are maintained by the school in order to provide opportunities for children to share their musical learning and performances at seasonal, or celebratory events which routinely take place, for example, Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas or village fetes.

• Enrichment opportunities and visits play a key role in widening children’s experience of authentic and inspiring music, such as Young Voices, visiting musicians, workshops, and links with local secondary schools' drama and music departments.

• Additional opportunities to learn a musical instrument are available through the music specialists who provide group or individual tuition during the school day.  Children’s progress and achievement is shared through the means of open assemblies.

 Impact

Music education at Marden is multi-faceted and progressive,  enabling an effective, ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum which offers children authentic experiences from professionals who are passionate about music.  We are committed to engage all children in the opportunity to creatively explore and apply musical ideas and processes as well as developing their own practical and evaluative skills. Through instrumental learning and performance, children gain life skills in communicating and contributing to a team as well as developing a shared, group identity and enormous benefit to well-being.  This, combined with additional events and opportunities, provides children with the experience of musical engagement and performance that in turn contributes to a life-long love of music.