Music
Music Intent Statement
At Witton-le-Wear Primary we have designed our Music curriculum so that our learners develop a passion for music, in which pupils learn to appreciate music and develop a life-long love of music.
Our children are introduced to a variety of genres of music from around the world and across generations as they progress through the school. During their time in our EYFS Unit, the children are exposed to music daily and become familiar with singing many types of songs from traditional nursery rhymes to more modern classics. Their listening skills and awareness of beat are also developed by using activities and games such as ‘Beat Baby’ and the use of Lycra. The children’s musical skills are also developed through playing tuned and untuned instruments, composing music and responding to music that they listen to. These skills prepare our children for KS1 and they continue to be developed as they progress through school.
We want to enable our children to be become confident performers, composers and listeners. We are fortunate to have Mr Waite, a music specialist who comes into our school to deliver music sessions every week, giving the children the opportunity to learn the ukulele and drums. The children can showcase their talent and their understanding of performing during assemblies throughout the year, as well as yearly class productions. The children in KS1 and KS2 are also given the opportunity to learn guitar and woodwind instruments through our specialist teachers from Durham Music Service.
Charanga Musical School Units of Work enable children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills.
Musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear. The strands of musical learning, presented are part of a learning spiral. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts. Repeating a musical skill doesn’t necessarily mean their progress is slowing down or their development is moving backwards! It’s just shifting within the spiral. Mastery means both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new.
As well as the music skills and concepts they develop the children also acquire transferrable skills which are key in their development as learners and have a wider application in their lives both inside and outside of school such as team-working, listening, concentration, leadership, creative thinking, decision-making and performance skills. These skills help to prepare our children as they transition into KS3.
Music Downloads
Due to our mixed-age classes, like other subjects music is taught across two cycles (A and B). The following document shows the topics that are covered in each cycle and how children will progress in each strand.
Class teachers decide how long to spend on each topic depending on its content and knowledge and understanding of the children. Further details can be found in class long term plans and by contacting your child’s class teacher.
The music leader for the school is Gabriella Ramage
