Music
Intent
At St.Swithun’s, we intend to provide a music curriculum which enables children to develop a love of music whilst increasing self-confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement. At St.Swithun’s School we make music an enjoyable learning experience.
We intend that music lessons are fun and inspiring, engaging the children with songs, lyrics and movement. We want the children to develop their own appreciation of music with the opportunities we provide as a school. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all.
Implementation
Our music curriculum is implemented through our music scheme of work, Kapow, which complements the curriculum and scaffolds the learning opportunities in music across the school. Kapow is a scheme of work which offers a topic-based approach to support children’s learning in music. A steady progression plan has been built into Kapow, both within each year and from one year to the next, ensuring consistent musical development.
Through Kapow, children have the opportunity to perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions. They learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others and also have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument.
In Saplings and KS1, the children enjoy singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes. They have the opportunity to play both tuned and percussion instruments which they use to create, select and combine sounds. They also listen and move to a wide range of music.
Children in KS2 build on the skills acquired in KS1 so that, by the end of year 6, they sing and play with increasing control and self-confidence. They deepen their understanding of music in the world and the significance of music through history. Children are encouraged to explore their own musical preferences and discuss these with confidence.
During worship, children hear pieces of music from a wide variety of genres. There are also dedicated singing sessions in KS1 and KS2, where children are taught the songs and hymns they will sing during worship.
All children are actively encouraged and given the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, from standard classroom instruments to individual instrumental lessons with the visiting peripatetic staff. These private lessons are arranged within the school day, for those who wish to take their music lessons further (keyboard, woodwind, iRock).
Impact
By the time children leave St.Swithun’s School they will:
- develop a love of music
- enjoy music, both from the performing and participation point but through appreciation and evaluation of the work of others
- develop an understanding of the methods and skills of musicians at an age appropriate level
- develop confidence in discussing music, their own work and identifying their own strengths and areas for development
- develop a range of skills and techniques across all of the areas of the music curriculum
- confidently perform either singing or playing an instrument, either solo or as part of a group
- begin to transcribe and use standard musical notation and read and create notes on the musical stave
- describe music, using a wide range of musical vocabulary to accurately describe and appraise
