“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Plato

 

INTENT

At Barnburgh Primary Academy, we intend to make music an enjoyable and memorable learning experience. We encourage all our children, no matter their attainment, to participate in a variety of musical experiences, in an aim for them to become creative and reflective musicians who can express themselves fluently and confidently. The teaching of music focuses on developing the children’s ability to listen to, compose and perform different forms of music, including developing the understanding of rhythm and following a beat, understanding the structure and organisation of music and appreciating a range of genres. We teach children about the history of music including well-known composers, instrumentation of historical periods and links to significant historical events and periods of time. Our children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons, when learning about how music can represent different emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary and we encourage children to use these terms when discussing music.

 

Our Core Values provide the platform on which we have built our curriculum offer at Barnburgh Primary School. Our Music curriculum is underpinned by our Core Values in the following ways;

 

COURAGE: Throughout the music curriculum, there are opportunities for children to perform solo or as part of a small group in front of their peers. It takes courage for children to not only share their creative ideas but to put themselves in the spotlight, opening themselves up to feedback. Tackling a challenging piece of music shows bravery; it’s all about pushing boundaries, not shying away from difficulties and showing resilience when difficulties occur. Children often collaborate and create their own compositions, which involves sharing personal ideas and being open to feedback. Each of these instances highlights how courage is at the heart of music education, helping children to grow both personally and artistically.

 

PERSEVERANCE: Learning to play an instrument is all about sticking with it; practicing daily helps muscians improve, even when they find it challenging. During the year, children work on ensemble pieces which teaches children the value of collaboration and commitment to the group, pushing through challenges together. Writing compositions encourages the children to refine their work over a period of time. They often experiment and revise, demonstrating that dedication and grit lead to growth and success in music-making. It's all about not giving up and keeping at it!

 

AMBITION: In music, children are encouraged to explore different genres, pushing them to step outside their comfort zones and experiment with new styles. The focus on group and individual performances allows the children to to set personal goals, instilling a sense of ownership and drive in their musical journey. Through collaborative projects, such as composing original pieces or participating in ensembles, teamwork and creativity are fostered, helping students aspire to achieve excellence together. The music curriculum inspires students to aim high and realise their potential in music.

 

RESPECT: Children learn to value each other's contributions during group performances, recognising that every instrument and voice adds to the overall sound. Children are taught to respect musical instruments and other music equipment.  When studying diverse musical genres, respect for cultural backgrounds is emphasised, encouraging students to appreciate different traditions and styles. During small group and whole class performances, constructive feedback is encouraged, fostering an environment where students can politely critique one another's work, promoting growth while ensuring everyone feels valued. These practices help nurture a respectful and inclusive musical community.

 

INDEPENDENCE: Independence in the music curriculum is key to developing each child’s skills. When children choose their own pieces to perform, they express their individuality and take ownership of their learning. Through composing their own music, children have the opportunity to explore personal creativity, giving them the freedom to experiment with different styles and techniques. Through enrichment activities, children can participate in group projects, like choir or ensembles, which encourages teamwork while still enabling each student to contribute their unique ideas.

 

Please find the music progression document below. This is a working document.