Music

Musician of the month

Intent

At West Wycombe, our number one priority is to ensure all children feel musical, and develop a love for music that will last a lifetime. We use the KAPOW music scheme to develop skills, knowledge and understanding that will support all students in becoming confident performers, composers and listeners. Through this curriculum, we aim to introduce children to music from all around the world and through the ages, teaching them to respect and appreciate music and its links to the traditions and communities of everyone.

Children will develop their skills in singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising, composing, listening and responding to music. As well as this, children will develop an understanding of the history and cultural context of the music they are listening to and will learn how music is written down.

Through our curriculum, we intend to help children develop transferable skills such as team-working, leadership, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and presentation and performance skills, which are vital to children's development as learners and members of the wider community.

Our curriculum enables students to meet the end of key stage attainment targets outlined in the national curriculum.

'A Healthy Life'- singing in assembly 🎼

Implementation

Kapow's Primary music scheme allows us at West Wycombe School to take a holistic approach to music in which the following strands: performing, listening, composing, the history of music and the inter-related dimensions of music are woven together to create engaging and enriching learning experiences.

Each unit of work combines these strands within a cross-curricular topic designed to capture pupils' imagination and encourage them to explore music enthusiastically. Children are taught to sing fluently expressively, and play tuned and untuned accurately and with control. They will begin to recognise and name the interrelated dimensions of music - pitch, duration, tempo and timbre and use these in their improvisations and compositions.

At West Wycombe, we follow a spiral curriculum whereby previous skills and knowledge are returned and built upon. Children progress by tackling more complex tasks, doing simple tasks better, and developing an understanding and knowledge of the history of music, staff and other musical notations, the inter-related dimensions of music and more. Lessons incorporate independent tasks, paired and group work, improvisation, and teacher-led performances.

In Years 5 and 6, our music lessons are provided by the Bucks Music Trust. Year 5 are currently learning a variety of stringed instruments and Year 6 are learning to play the guitar.

Impact

Children's progress and attainment will be monitored through formative and summative assessments against the learning objectives. Children will meet the end of Key Stage expectations outlined in the EYFS and National curriculums.

The impact of teaching music will be seen across the school with an increase in music profile. Whole-school and parental engagement will be improved through performances, extracurricular activities and opportunities suggested in lessons/overviews for broader learning.

Participation in music develops well-being, promotes listening and develops concentration. Pupils will be able to demonstrate and articulate an enthusiasm for music and identify their music preferences. Pupils and staff will be confident to explore their creativity through music and singing. Children are inspired to become musicians, singers and performers.

The music subject leader will monitor the impact on pupils through yearly activities, including work scrutiny, planning scrutiny, pupil voice, staff voice, parent voice and engagement in performances and relevant extracurricular activities.