Music
Music
Music in class is taught in classes by class teachers following music express. The basic concepts of tone/timbre, beat, dynamics, register/pitch, duration, direction, form/structure, rhythmic and melodic patterns, texture and style are taught through composing, listening, performing and moving. We are lucky to have an extensive supply of percussion instruments to enhance this provision. All year 4 children have music lessons through DASP music, ad this year our children are focussing on brass. We also work with a range of peripatetic music teachers who teach small groups and individuals at a higher level.
These are some of the additional music groups, activities and clubs:
- Termly performances
Instrumental lessons - violin, keyboard, guitar, piano, keyboard, brass, drum, flute
DASP music celebration
Visits from performers and performance groups - After school clubs
Musical activities during multicultural events
Class assemblies.
Intent
The EYFS curriculum ensures that children are expressive and imaginative through music and can sing a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs; perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others, and – when appropriate – try to move in time with music.
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
• Be taught to sing, create and compose music
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated.
At Piddle Valley the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Our objective at Piddle Valley is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Implementation
The music curriculum is taught through the Dorset Music's Online Charanga scheme which ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly 'Songs of Praise' assemblies, various concerts and performances, the learning of instruments, and the joining of one of our many musical experiences through DASP. The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom students learn how to play an instrument, from at least two of the four main instrument groups of wind, strings, percussion and keyboards. In doing so they understand the different principles of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. They also learn how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument. The school explores historical and modern day composers through 'Composer of the Month' and learning National Anthems from different countries. We currently have peripatetic instrumental music tuition in piano and ukulele.
Impact
Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. The integral nature of music and the learner creates an enormously rich palette from which a student may access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. They have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.