Music

Intent

At Northgate our primary intent is to have an engaging and inspiring curriculum with high academic ambition for all pupils.  In Music we aim to develop students’ understanding and knowledge of music from different times, places and traditions.  In doing so we endeavour to build the children’s skills of listening, appraising, performing and composing. 

The National Curriculum for Music aims to ensure that all children:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

At Northgate our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum, the Charanga music scheme, the Model Music Curriculum and, where appropriate, links are made with the Musicplayonline Curriculum.  It develops both knowledge and practical skills, with frequent opportunities to perform in front of an audience.

Implementation

Each class from Reception to Year 6 has a weekly music lesson using resources from Musicplayonline.  Both KS1 and KS2 also have a weekly music assembly when we sing a variety of songs, listen to children perform on instruments they are learning, or enjoy the performances of visiting musicians.

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of Music involves the following;

• At EYFS and Key Stage 1, music is taught by class teachers.
• At Key Stage 2, lessons are taught by a specialist music teacher.
• Music lessons are designed to fit the students' needs and progress, using resources from Musicplayonline and prepare them for group and individual performances.
• Children’s knowledge and understanding of musical vocabulary is developed to enable their ability to describe and appraise pieces of music.
• At Key Stage 2, children begin learning aspects of music theory, applying them when learning to play both a pitched instrument (recorder or glockenspiel) and non-pitched percussion instruments.
• Children have the opportunity to develop skills of improvisation and composition, using their knowledge of rhythm and pitch.
• Children develop their performance skills through a variety of opportunities (e.g. Christmas Carol Service, year group shows, ensembles such as choir and orchestra).
• Children increase their cultural capital through visitors and visits e.g. Bishop’s Stortford Wind Band; Hertfordshire Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
• Students are encouraged to learn a musical instrument in school through the provision of Music for Schools Foundation and other peripatetic music teachers.
• Events for more able musicians from local schools are organised to ensure these children are given extra opportunities to be challenged, e.g. Birchwood Primary Music Day.