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, and begin to express the quality of music.

The objectives of teaching music in our school are to enable children to:

– Perform; through singing and by having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, which will allow them to progress through levels of musical excellence.

– Compose; by creating their own music with others using their voices and both tuned and untuned instruments appropriately.
Transcribe; through knowing and understanding how music is created, communicated and organised into musical structures and to understand musical terms.

– Describe; by listening to, reviewing and evaluating music across 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.

At Moat Farm Infants the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, describing and composing. Our objective is to develop a love and curiosity for music, as well as an appreciation for the importance of different genres of music. We aim to make links to other curriculum subjects and give children the experience of genres of music in different cultures, styles and historical periods.

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. In music sessions with our music specialist, children learn how to play instruments and in year two they learn the ocarina. Children in KS1 are given the opportunity to learn instruments through Rocksteady. Children learn how to transcribe and compose using symbols and a variety of instruments/sounds. They also learn how to listen to and describe music, listening to a variety of music genres and are taught to describe music using musical vocabulary.

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 one, children build on their learning from EYFS. Children continue to perform and explore songs and musical instruments in music sessions with our music specialist. They compose and transcribe music with support. Children are given opportunities to listen to and describe music. In class and assemblies, children listen to a different genre of music each week. They also take part in listening time where adults provide children with opportunities to listen to and describe music which gives them a deeper understanding of a range of music.

In year two, children continue their musical journey and further deepen their knowledge. Children learn to play the ocarina with our musical specialist where they have opportunities to perform, compose and transcribe music. They also are exposed to a range of genres of music in assembly and within listening time in class. In year two, children are encouraged to describe music using music vocabulary modelled by adults.

In KS1 children also have the opportunity to take part in Rocksteady sessions where they can learn to play a guitar, keyboard or drums. This gives children a deeper understanding of music, by playing a number of instruments and performing in termly Rocksteady assemblies. Also, in KS1, children take part in weekly singing practise where they learn a range of songs which are performed at the end of summer music festival.

Impact

During their time at Moat Farm Infants, children are given a wide range of musical experiences both as a listener and performer which helps to develop a deeper understanding of, as well as a love and appreciation of music. They describe music as “fun”.

They develop the skills of listening, performing, composing and describing and can use musical terms correctly to express themselves. Children say that they “like playing with musical instruments” and “like listening” to music. “I like that it can sound different. I could be high, low, bumpy or smooth”.

The music they have experienced will also help them to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world.

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