Music

Music

Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement

Intent

At Seascale Primary School we believe that all children should have the opportunity to engage with and respond to a wide variety of musical experiences. We believe that by:

• performing, listening to and reviewing music,
• learning to sing and use their voice,
• having the opportunity to play musical instruments,
• being introduced to the possibilities created by Music Technology and
• developing an understanding of the terminology used in music,

children will deepen their understanding of musical skills and concepts and ultimately develop a life-long love of music.

We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need in order to become confident performers, composers and listeners. Our curriculum introduces children to music from around the world and across generations, teaching children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.  Children will develop the musical skills of singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising and composing music, and listening and responding to music. They will develop an understanding of the history and cultural context of the music that they listen to and learn how music can be written down. Through music, our curriculum helps children to develop transferable skills such as team work and leadership, creative thinking and problem solving, decision making and presentation and performance skills.

As part of a local Music Hub we have access to events for children to participate in as well as visits from musicians and staff, CDP and support.

At Seascale we are proud to hold the Music Mark Award. This recognises a commitment to Music, inspiring children to create, participate in and have experience of great arts and culture.

Implementation

Following a review of Music, we have introduced the Kapow Primary Music Scheme this year. Kapow Primary Music scheme is a progressive programme from EYFS to Year 6 which covers all the requirements of the National Curriculum for Music and aligns with the Model Music Curriculum.

Across our school, Foundation Subject time is being streamlined to ensure our subject offers are strong and relevant whilst retaining a broad and balanced curriculum coverage. We are therefore following Kapow’s Condensed Music Curriculum. This has been designed to ensure National Curriculum coverage, using fewer units which will cover the key skills. A range of musical styles are covered and the interrelated dimensions of music are given similar attention in terms of coverage.

Staff have the flexibility to adapt the planning to make use of cross curricular links as Unit blocks do not need to be taught in a particular order. Within a Unit however lessons must be taught in order as they build on each other.

Kapow has been created so that both teachers who are confident and those who are not confident in delivering the music curriculum are able to deliver lessons of a high standard that ensure pupil progression. Each unit includes teacher videos to develop subject knowledge and to support delivery.

Units are made up of five lessons. Each Unit combines the strands of Performing, Listening, Composing, the history of Music and the inter-related dimensions of music within a cross curricular topic designed to capture children’s imagination and encourage them to explore music enthusiastically. Over the course of the scheme children will be taught how to sing fluently and expressively, and to play tuned and untuned instruments accurately and with control. They will learn to recognise and name the interrelated dimensions of music – pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and dynamics – and use these expressively in their own improvisations and compositions. 

The Kapow scheme follows the spiral curriculum model where previous skills and knowledge are returned to and built on. In each lesson pupils will actively participate in musical activities drawn from a range of styles and traditions, developing their musical skills and their understanding of how music works. Lessons incorporate a range of teaching strategies from independent tasks, paired and group work as well as improvisation and teacher led performances. Lessons are hands on and incorporate movement and dance elements as well as making cross curricular links with other areas of learning.

Music sessions are delivered weekly in the half terms when Music is timetabled. Teachers do have flexibility to block sessions. Lessons are 45 minutes to an hour. Kapow is not prescriptive in lesson timings, adopting an approach which allows teachers and pupils room to explore music at a pace that is appropriate.

At Seascale our Year 4 children have benefitted for many years from whole class instrument teaching through the support of the Music Hub. This year a combined Year 3 and 4 class means that they will receive their whole class instrument teaching next year when they are a Year 4 and 5 class instead.

We value the importance of performance at Seascale and provide opportunities for all children to engage with this and perform to an audience. Class assemblies often feature a musical performance. Those children who learn a musical instrument are given the opportunity to perform in front of an audience in the form of a musical recital. EYFS are involved in the Carol Service and Nativity. KS1 are involved in Christmas performances, Lower KS2 have a Spring production and upper KS2 have an End of Year production. We recognise that much preparation is required to practice and put on a performance so for this reason in the terms when a class is putting on a performance Kapow units will not be followed.

Our children have access to a range of musical instruments to support the lessons. These are kept centrally in Ennerdale for KS1 and KS2. There is a trolley for percussion instruments and drawers for tuned instruments. We have a selection of multicultural instruments. EYFS have a selection of instruments within the Unit for easy access. 

Additional opportunities for music are available to challenge and extend those who are musically talented. Children can opt to have additional lessons in school time to learn instruments. Currently we offer peripatetic music lessons in piano.

We recognise that music can be important to our SEND children. Many of our children with bespoke curriculums are able to access class based music lessons.

Impact

We know that Music has a positive impact on pupil’s learning because children can demonstrate and discuss an enthusiasm for music and identify their own musical preferences. They have an appreciation of a wide range of musical styles and can listen, perform and compose. The impact of Kapow Primary Music is monitored through formative and summative assessment opportunities. At the end of Reception the ELG for Expressive Arts and Design will indicate whether children have met the expected level. Children in Year 2 and 6 should meet the expected end of Key Stage outcomes outlined in the National Curriculum for Music. Ultimately in line with the Kapow Scheme for Music our children should move on to their next phase of learning:

• Being confident performers, composers and listeners, able to express themselves musically at and beyond school
• Showing an appreciation and respect for a wide range of musical styles from around the world and understanding how music is influenced by the wider cultural, social and historical contexts in which it is developed.
• Understanding the ways in which music can be written down to support performing and composing activities.
• With the ability to demonstrate and articulate an enthusiasm for music and an ability to identify their own personal musical preferences
• Meeting the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Music