Music
Year 4 pupil: "I love music because it makes me feel free."
Intent
At Hill Top Primary Academy, the intention is that our Music Curriculum will inspire self-expression, creativity and encourage our children on their musical journeys to last a lifetime. We aim to create children who are well-rounded musicians, as they will gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating and composing across a wide range of periods, traditions and cultures. Our objective is to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. Our children will be taught music in a way that ensures progression of skills, meets the National Curriculum objectives and follows a sequence to build on previous learning. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, so that they will consider a career in music in their future lives.
Implementation
At Hill Top Primary Academy, we follow a broad and balanced Music Curriculum that builds on previous learning and provides both support and challenge for learners. We follow the Kapow Music Scheme that ensures progression of skills and covers all aspects of the Music Curriculum. The Kapow Primary scheme follows the spiral curriculum model where previous skills and knowledge are returned to and built upon. Children progress in terms of tackling more complex tasks and doing more simple tasks better, as well as developing understanding and knowledge of the history of music, staff, and other musical notations. They will also learn about the interrelated dimensions of music. The scheme is supplemented with Sparkyard and SingUp, both musically accredited websites.
CPD is provided for staff to ensure a high-quality curriculum is being delivered.
Music teaching begins in Early Years, where children are exposed to music in continuous provision and the fundamental basics are built upon each year.
All classes will have a scheduled music lesson each week and where possible, music will be immersed into topics. We want to ensure that music is embedded into our whole school curriculum and that opportunities for enhancing learning by using music are always taken.
The school has whole class ensemble teaching in Year 5, where children are taught the Viola by professional musicians at Artforms.
Group music lessons are also available to pupils to continue to develop their skills and ability on a musical instrument. At present the instruments are: Singing, Guitar, Keyboard, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Cornet and Saxophone. Opportunities are taken to perform in class, in whole assemblies and also to parents and the wider community.
Impact
The children in our school will use subject specific vocabulary when talking about music. Progress in music is demonstrated through regularly reviewing videos that have been uploaded into a central file. This allows clear progression to be documented and acknowledged. We also monitor progression through talking to the children about what they know and quizzing them around their knowledge organisers.
Pupils will leave our school equipped with a range of skills to enable them to succeed in their secondary education and to be able to enjoy and appreciate music throughout their lives.
All children will meet the end of key stage expectations outlined in the National Curriculum for Music, as lessons will be well sequenced, challenging and provide a safe learning environment for everyone.
Music Long Term Plan 2024-2025
Music development plan summary:
Key Vocabulary
Music at Hill Top Primary Academy
Wider musical opportunities at Hill Top Primary Academy...
Rock Steady Music Assembly and Workshop
Christmas 2022 - Woodwind and Brass Orchestra