Music

MUSIC

“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.”

Stevie Wonder

Our intent

At Sheddingdean, it is our intent that we make music an inspiring and enjoyable learning experience.  We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences, which in turn develops a love of music, their talent as musicians and to increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. 

Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. By singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music as well as harmonising and singing together. Our lessons teach them to listen, appreciate and respect different forms of music across different time periods, cultures and traditions.

Children discover how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives and include learning the technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm.  As pupils progress, they develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose and listen with confidence.

Our Music Curriculum Implementation 

At Sheddingdean we teach music through the Charanga scheme of work. The Music School is used throughout the school to ensure children receive a wide exposure to different genres of music, with lots of practical opportunities to explore and develop as musicians and singers. By following the weekly lesson plans, children continue to build on their skills in playing, singing, listening, appraising, improvising and composing.

The Charanga scheme has a steady progression plan built into it, both within each year and from one year to the next, thus ensuring consistent musical development. By following the scheme, we can ensure that the aims for musical learning stated in the National Curriculum are fulfilled.

Charanga Music School includes many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places, explored through the language of music by active listening, performing and composing activities. 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. With a range of whole class, group and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform.

All children at Sheddingdean develop their singing skills further through the whole school weekly singing assemblies. The school come together to learn, harmonise and develop their choral singing talents. Singing as part of a large group also helps promote their listening skills and love of music.  They also have the opportunity to build their confidence of performing through class assemblies, Key Stage performances and concerts.

This year, the school joins the West Sussex whole-class instrumental programme (WCET), where children in Year 4 have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument for one term by a specialised subject teacher. These lessons include teaching musical notation, singing, as well as learning to play an instrument.   Opportunities to perform in class, in assemblies and also to parents and the wider community will be encouraged. 

Our Music Curriculum Impact

Music assessment is ongoing to inform teachers with their planning, lesson activities and differentiation. Summative assessment is completed at the end of each unit to inform leaders of the improvements or skills that still need to be embedded. Music is monitored throughout all year groups using learning walks and pupil interviews.