Music
Intent
Music teaching at St James’ delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum through use of the Charanga scheme of work. Teachers follow the suggested scheme of work, although adaptations can be made using the ‘freestyle’ element of the package to substitute units deemed to be more appropriate for thematic learning in other curriculum areas. Music lessons are broken down into half-termly units and an emphasis is placed on musical vocabulary, allowing children to talk about pieces of music using the correct terminology. Each unit of work has an on-going musical learning focus and lessons usually follow a specific learning sequence:
Within the EYFS setting, music is an integral part of children’s learning journey. Rhyme and rhythm are utilised throughout the learning of phonics, handwriting and mathematics. Children learn a wide range of songs and rhymes and develop skills for performing together. Singing and music making opportunities are used frequently to embed learning, develop musical awareness and to demonstrate how music can be used to express feelings.
Children in Year 3 benefit from whole class specialist teaching, delivered by a member of the One Education Music Service. These lessons allow children the opportunity to learn to play an instrument as part of an ensemble and to engender a love of music learning. Throughout the sessions the interrelated elements of music are developed. The Music Service also use elements of Charanga in their sessions. All children in Year 4 take part in guitar lessons for 6 weeks in small groups. Those who wish to pursue these lessons further are given the opportunity to continue to develop this skill by having weekly lessons in year 5 and 6. Children in Year 5 are also given Clarinet lessons for 6 weeks and given the opportunity to pursue this further in Year 6. All these lessons are offered free of charge and children are able to borrow instruments to take home to remove any barriers to the joy of learning an instrument. All those taking part in learning musical instruments are invited to showcase what they have learnt at performances at half termly assemblies.
Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at St James’ and pupils participate in a range of performances during their school ‘career’. These include nativities (EYFS and KS1), Easter performances (Years 3 – 4) and an end of year performance (Year 5 and 6). Pupils also take part in Harvest assemblies and singing assemblies. Pupils who are confident are encouraged to perform in solo performances. Parents are invited and welcomed to watch all of these performances whether at school or outside of school. Pupils also have the opportunity to join the school choir and to participate in the annual carol concert at the local community centre.
Music teaching at St James’ delivers the requirements of the National Curriculum through use of the Charanga scheme of work. Teachers follow the suggested scheme of work, although adaptations can be made using the ‘freestyle’ element of the package to substitute units deemed to be more appropriate for thematic learning in other curriculum areas. Music lessons are broken down into half-termly units and an emphasis is placed on musical vocabulary, allowing children to talk about pieces of music using the correct terminology. Each unit of work has an on-going musical learning focus and lessons usually follow a specific learning sequence:
- Listen and Appraise
- Musical Activities (including pulse and rhythm)
- Singing and Voice
- Playing instruments
- Improvisation / Composition
- Perform and Share
Within the EYFS setting, music is an integral part of children’s learning journey. Rhyme and rhythm are utilised throughout the learning of phonics, handwriting and mathematics. Children learn a wide range of songs and rhymes and develop skills for performing together. Singing and music making opportunities are used frequently to embed learning, develop musical awareness and to demonstrate how music can be used to express feelings.
Children in Year 3 benefit from whole class specialist teaching, delivered by a member of the One Education Music Service. These lessons allow children the opportunity to learn to play an instrument as part of an ensemble and to engender a love of music learning. Throughout the sessions the interrelated elements of music are developed. The Music Service also use elements of Charanga in their sessions. All children in Year 4 take part in guitar lessons for 6 weeks in small groups. Those who wish to pursue these lessons further are given the opportunity to continue to develop this skill by having weekly lessons in year 5 and 6. Children in Year 5 are also given Clarinet lessons for 6 weeks and given the opportunity to pursue this further in Year 6. All these lessons are offered free of charge and children are able to borrow instruments to take home to remove any barriers to the joy of learning an instrument. All those taking part in learning musical instruments are invited to showcase what they have learnt at performances at half termly assemblies.
Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at St James’ and pupils participate in a range of performances during their school ‘career’. These include nativities (EYFS and KS1), Easter performances (Years 3 – 4) and an end of year performance (Year 5 and 6). Pupils also take part in Harvest assemblies and singing assemblies. Pupils who are confident are encouraged to perform in solo performances. Parents are invited and welcomed to watch all of these performances whether at school or outside of school. Pupils also have the opportunity to join the school choir and to participate in the annual carol concert at the local community centre.
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In 2021, St James' adopted Charanga Musical school from EYFS to Year 6. Charanga Musical School is a complete new music scheme for the new primary music curriculum. It is a living cloud-based resource that brings together great music, modern pedagogy and the latest educational technology. It supports all aspects of music in school including the new music curriculum, as well as providing children and their families with opportunities to continue learning and exploring music at home through Music World. 
Impact Our music Curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different musical components and teaching of vocabulary also forms part of the units of work. If children are achieving the knowledge and skills in lessons, then they are deemed to be making good or better progress. We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:
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Progression
Aims Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon. (The National Curriculum) Music teaching at St James’ Primary School aims to follow the specifications of the National Curriculum; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum and ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge and skills. At St James we believe that music plays an integral role in helping children to feel part of a community, therefore we provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience. Through assemblies and key stage performances, children showcase their talent and their understanding of performing with awareness of others. Lessons enable children to develop their skills, appreciate a wide variety of music and begin to appraise a range of musical genres. The aims of our Music curriculum are to develop pupils who:
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