Curriculum: Music

The Intent of our Music Curriculum

Music is an integral and well-resourced part of life at The Willows Catholic Primary School. We want the music lessons to be fun and inspiring, engaging the children with songs, lyrics and movement. We want the children to feel able and reflective and expressive, developing their own appreciation of music with the opportunities we provide as a school. All children are actively encouraged and given the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, from standard classroom instruments to individual instrumental lessons with the visiting peripatetic staff.

We believe that a music curriculum which inspires creativity is the entitlement of all children. Our aims in teaching music include the following:

The children:

know and understand that music can be expressed in many different forms and organised into musical structures;
are given the opportunity to play and perform a variety of different musical instruments, both solo and ensemble;
listen to a range of musical forms and be able to comment on the various elements;
understand how music is composed and written down;
know how music is influenced by the time, place and purpose for which it was written;
develop the interrelated skills of performing, composing and appreciating music;
learn to sing and use their voices;
connect with music and use it as a celebration of life;
recognise the diverse nature of music and how different cultures are reflected in it.

The sheer joy of music making can feed the soul of the school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which makes a great school.
(Model music Curriculum March 2021)

The Implementation of our Music Curriculum

The lessons are delivered by a Music Specialist working in most classes alongside the class teacher- every Wednesday and Friday (50 mins every week). The school also uses the “Charanga Musical school” online lessons with the support of the Lancashire Music service.

Digital music units are also taught in Years 2 and 6 (purple Mash and Garage Band). The development and application of musicianship –understanding pulse, beat, rhythm, pitch is continual and embedded.

Further to this we aim to teach the MMC ( The Model Music Curriculum 2021) in ways that are imaginative, purposeful, well managed and enjoyable. Links between music and other subjects are a feature of practice throughout the school. The MMC explores how musical techniques and skills can be nurtured and developed in all pupils. Such skills are expressed instrumentally, vocally or through music technology. The skills as identified in the MMC are:

listening
composing
performing

Brass 4 All

For one year, whilst the children are in Year 4, everyone learns to play a brass instrument with Mr. Squires Evans from JSE Music Service. They learn to play together and enjoy performing at our termly concerts.

The Impact of our Music Curriculum

There is a love of music throughout the school. Music performances are regular events in the school year especially when we come together as a whole community. Children sing spontaneously and there is a willingness and excitement about performance. Children feel free to create and innovate when they compose and there is a willingness to evaluate one another’s work. Children understand genres and musical traditions and are familiar with music that forms our shared cultural capital.

AFL is at the heart of learning and teaching throughout The Willows. Teachers skilfully ask open questions and challenge children to quantify answers and to give examples. Children are encouraged to be open and share observations and understanding with their learning partners and with the class. The children’s responses are used to inform future planning. Oral feedback and further questioning is a feature of all lessons. Each term the teacher makes a judgement in line with the national expectations. Music focused tasks can be found in the children’s “Music” books.

Music is monitored by the subject leader (Miss Mallinson) throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies including staff discussions and pupil interviews. Children love music and there is a high uptake in extra music lessons, attendance and choir and orchestra.

Choir

The choir is made up of over sixty children from our Year 3 to Year 6 classes; children of all ages, abilities and talents – singing together, enjoying music and taking part in an experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. It is led by two specialist music teachers, Mrs. Spacey and Miss Mallinson, who rehearse on a Friday afternoon – working tirelessly to prepare the children not only for performances in school but also for community events. The choir have performed at rest homes in the run up to the Christmas season, at the local garden centre, at our Grandparents’ Coffee Morning in school and took part in the competition ‘Last Choir Singing’.

Instrument Tuition

We offer instrument tuition to all children from Year 3 onwards. These lessons cost £5.00 per week and the children are taught by specialist teachers in small groups. The children enjoy performing at assemblies and in their termly concerts.

Brass Tuition

Mr Squires Evans visits our school every week to teach brass. We currently have 17 children learning to play either the cornet, trumpet, baritone, horn or trombone.

String Tuition

Our strings are also taught by Mr Squires Evans. We can learn to play the violin or the cello. We currently have 14 children learning to play stringed instruments.

Woodwind

Mr Irwin teaches woodwind. We have children learning to play the flute, the clarinet or the saxophone. Currently we have 25 children learning to play a woodwind instrument.

Orchestra

We have a growing orchestra who meet together each Tuesday under the guidance of Mr Squires Evans (our brass teacher) Mrs Spacey and Mrs Green (a volunteer). They have already performed at a number of events in school.