Music

Intent

At Christleton Primary School we want the music 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.

Music is planned in-line with the statements laid out in the national curriculum and taught with cross-curricular links where possible.

We use a scheme called Charanga. This scheme provides many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre.

Through our music lessons children are actively involved in a wide range of musical opportunities. Children develop their singing voices, using body percussion and whole body actions, and learning to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform.

Implementation  Charanga is a scheme of work which offers a topic-based approach to support children’s learning in music. A steady progression plan has been built into Charanga, both within each year and from one year to the next, ensuring consistent musical development. By using Charanga as the basis of a scheme of work, we can ensure that they are fulfilling the aims for musical learning stated in the National Curriculum: Charanga includes many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre. Charanga provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices, using body percussion and whole body actions, and learning to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform.

Teaching

During music lessons children will be given opportunities to learn music specific vocabulary in a meaningful context. During the lesson children will be given opportunities to apply skill and given chance for collaboration through composition.

Enhancements

Music 4 Life 

Children in year four have the opportunity to learn three instruments through our Wider Opportunities sessions run by Music for Life. This includes learning the guitar and samba instruments. 

Amasing 

Our fabulous 'Amasing'- an exciting arts organisation and charity foundation, visit our school and provide us with Music and drama lessons too. Our children attend events through this organisation alongside other schools, such as the 'Chester Through the Decades' concert at Chester cathedral. Some of our children have even auditioned for Britain's Got Talent through the Amasing choir and were very excited to meet Simon Cowell!

Tuition

We have a piano and guitar teacher who visit our school and provide one to one or small group tuition.

Choir

Mrs Hughes runs a weekly after school choir club. The children love singing a range of songs.

Performances

Our children are provided with a range of opportunities to perform, for example in Harvest Festival and Christmas concerts, nativity plays, talent evenings and more. 

Assessment

As music is a practical subject, assessment may be done by focussing on a small group at a time on certain tasks or skills, observing the children, discussing their work or self/group/teacher evaluation against criteria from the National Curriculum programmes of study and end of year expectations. The progression grid provided by the subject leader ensures  children are accessing work at age related expectations, with regular opportunities to be challenged through higher-level objectives. Children are assessed according to age related expectations in line with curriculum requirements. This shared termly with the subject co-ordinator.

Impact

Music is monitored by the subject leader throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies such as, lesson observations, staff discussions and pupil interviews.  Feedback is given to teachers and leaders use the information to see if the children know more and remember more.

Our Music curriculum.

The documents below outline our Music curriculum. 

Music Curriculum 

This document outlines how we have planned to deliver the National Curriculum in Music across Years 1- 6. 

Music and EYFS

The EYFS framework is structured very differently to the national curriculum as it is organised across seven areas of learning rather than subject areas.
Whilst we prefer not to refer to Music as a discrete subject on the Early Years and Foundation Stage curriculum, it can be found within various areas of learning.

For example, relevant statements can be found in the following areas:
•    Communication and Language
•    Physical Development 
•    Expressive Arts and Design. 
•    Mathematics

Music is also available in continious provision, with different instruments and beaters such as spoons, pots and pans to encourage a love of Music.

This development of knowledge and understanding does not happen in isolation without simultaneously and symbiotically developing other areas of learning. EYFS 'dip into' Charanga lessons to support their learning of Nursery rhymes and songs. 

Our EYFS curriculum document provides the overview of how we deliver the EYFS framework in school and prepare our children for the National Curriculum covered from Year 1 upwards.  

National Curriculum Mapping

Our National Curriculum coverage mapping document highlights were the Music National Curriculum objectives are delivered in school. 

	Click the icon for Music Pupil Voice
	Click the icon for Music In Action
Please see our Music development plan for 2024-25 in the attached files below.