Music

Intention

The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all children:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
• be taught to sing, create and compose music
• play musical instruments
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated

At Ling Bob School, children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions and musical genres.  We are committed to developing 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.  We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge and experiences to involve themselves in music in a variety of different contexts.

In Practice

At Ling Bob School, children have access to a rich and varied music programme which ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate music.  Music is embedded into the classroom through a carefully planned series of lessons building on pupils’ prior knowledge, interests and links to other curriculum areas where appropriate. This is delivered throughout school by a specialist music teacher from “The Arts People”.  In these lessons, the elements of music are taught so that children are able to use some of the vocabulary of music to dissect it, understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed.

Composing and performing music is an integral part of the music curriculum and pupils in KS2 learn how to play the ukulele and the violin. Skills are built upon year on year and by the time pupils leave school in Year 6, they are able to read basic music notation and play a range of music with confidence.

In addition to a weekly music lesson, pupils participate in various concerts and performances throughout the year.  For example, carol concerts at the local church and residential home for the elderly, the Year 6 leavers’ performance and the annual Ling Bob’s Got Talent competition which attracts many entries from each year group. We also have a weekly singing assembly with live musicians.

Our diverse music curriculum allows pupils to discover: 

• strengths and areas for improvement
• self-confidence
• interaction with and an awareness of others
• self-reflection

Outcome

 Our intended impact is for children to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose—either as listener, creator or performer.  They can dissect music and comprehend its parts; they can sing and feel a pulse; they can play a musical instrument and read basic music; they can discuss and explore how music effects mood and emotions; they have an understanding of how to develop skills less known to them should they wish to in the future.

Music celebrations