Music

Music subject coordinator – Mrs Ashmore

Intent

At Moat Farm Infants we provide opportunities for all children to play,
create, perform and most importantly enjoy music. We allow them to
develop the skills to appreciate a wide variety of musical forms.
The objectives of teaching music in our school follow the EYFS and
National Curriculum and enable children to:

• Perform; through singing and by having the opportunity to learn a
musical instrument.
• Compose; by creating their own music with others using their voices
and both tuned and untuned instruments.
• Transcribe; through knowing and understanding how music is
created and organised into musical structures and to understand
musical terms.
• Describe; by listening to a range of historical periods, genres, styles
and traditions. Children are taught how to use musical language
such as tempo and pitch when describing music.

We intend for children to experience a high-quality musical education
which is taught across subjects, is based on their interests and reflects
current events. The curriculum should engage and inspire children to
develop a love and curiosity of music and their talent as musicians, and
so increase their creativity and self-confidence.

We want each child to develop their own preferences for musical styles
by introducing them to a range of different genres of music in different
cultures, styles and historical periods.

Children will be given opportunities to acquire skills and then revisit them
to progress and embed the skills through different themes and activities.
Where teaching objectives are repeated, children will use the skills they
have already learnt to compose in new ways, experimenting with
different instruments, styles and genres.

Implementation

The music curriculum ensures children perform, compose, transcribe
and describe. This is embedded in classroom activities as well as in
weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performances.

We invite performers into school so that the children experience new
styles of music and we also give the children the opportunity to become
performers themselves both in class and to larger audiences through
Christmas productions, our summer festival and assemblies.

Through our Genre of the Week, all children are given opportunities to
listen to a wide range of music which they are encouraged to describe
using appropriate musical language which progresses across year
groups.

In EYFS children begin their musical journey by listening to and singing
songs and rhymes. Staff provide children with opportunities to explore
musical instruments and to perform in small and large groups. Children
access songs and instruments in structured musical sessions with our
music specialist as well as exploring music through play. Musical
instruments and songs are provided in our provision both indoors and
outdoors for children to use to perform. This gives children opportunities
to compose their own music and deepen their love of music.

In Year 1, children build on their learning from EYFS. They continue to
perform and explore songs and new musical instruments in music
sessions with our music specialist. The children have the opportunity to
compose and transcribe using symbols and a variety of
instruments/sounds.

In Year 2, children revisit and build on the skills that they have already
learnt to further deepen their knowledge. They move onto learning the
ocarina with our musical specialist where they perform, compose and
transcribe music. They also take part in music appreciation time where
they are asked to describe music using music vocabulary modelled by
adults.

In KS1, children have the opportunity to take part in Rocksteady sessions
where they learn to play a guitar, keyboard or drums. This allows
children to further develop as musicians by playing a number of
instruments and performing in termly Rocksteady assemblies. Our KS1
choir, which is run by our music specialist, allows children who show
strong musical skills the chance to further develop their abilities. All
children take part in weekly singing practise sessions where they learn
songs chosen for them based on current events or songs which they
have expressed an interest in learning. Songs are also taught in class
which help children to embed concepts such as the number bonds song
in maths and brain break songs to help with children’s mental well-being.

Impact

During their time at Moat Farm Infants, children are given a wide range
of musical experiences across the curriculum, which helps them to
develop a deeper understanding as well as a love and appreciation of
music. They develop the skills of listening, performing, composing and
describing and can use musical terms correctly to express themselves.
Children say that they “enjoy playing musical instruments” and “like
listening to music”.

We ensure our curriculum is monitored regularly and reflect upon what
has been taught to ensure we are providing a broad and balanced
curriculum for our children. On entry to Reception, 38% of children are
on track and by the time they leave us in Year 2, 67% of children are on
track in music.

Non-negotiables for Music

– We all consolidate learning through retrieval practise questions at the start of music lessons.
– We all share learning objectives and success criteria in our music sessions.
– We all plan opportunities for children to listen to and describe music.
– We all plan opportunities for the children to sing and learn a range of tuned and untuned instruments.
– We all plan opportunities for children to compose and perform.
– We all use the correct musical language so that children developing a secure understanding of the structure and terms used in music.
– We all plan for next steps and extension opportunities for children.
– We all provide children with SEND access to the curriculum through adapted planning and resource support.
– We complete assessments within lessons which inform future planning. We complete half termly assessments based on skills taught throughout previous weeks.

End of Key Stage Intentions for Music

By the end of EYFS pupils will demonstrate the following:
– Sing in a group or on their own, a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs, increasingly matching the pitch and following the melody.
– Listen attentively and talk about music, expressing their feelings and responses.
– Explore and engage in music making.
– Try to move in time with music.

By the end of KS1 pupils will demonstrate the following:
– Use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes.
– Play tuned and untuned instruments musically.
– Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music.
– Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

Books that inspire Music – Click one to enjoy