Music
Intent
'Music enriches individual lives as well as a school’s wider community’
At Helmsley Community Primary School, our pupils will learn that music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. It is our intent that we make music an inspiring and enjoyable learning experience which develops the children’s musical skills and prepares them in readiness for high school. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which to develop a love of music and develop their talent as musicians, and in turn 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 through performing on a range of musical instruments. By singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music. We teach them to listen and to appreciate different forms of music across different time periods, cultures and traditions. Our Musical Monday Assemblies connects our musical learning together with our weekly focus on the Musician of the Month, singing activities and a focus on rhythm and beat. The children also learn to appreciate how music supports other areas of the curriculum such as dance and drama.
Children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm and encourage children to discuss music using these terms. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose and to listen with confidence.
We implement music through:
• The use of a specialist music teacher
• A progressive curriculum, that builds on children's prior knowledge and skills (Sing Up)
• Teaching that focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. Children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives.
• Having the highest expectations of our children. This enables them to explore technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm
• Providing children with opportunities to perform in front of their peers and wider audiences.
Musician of the Month
During our Musical Monday Assembly children will be introduced to the Musician of the Month.
Musician of the Month music is played on entry/exit to daily assemblies. The new musician is introduced on the first Monday of each month and information shared on subsequent Mondays to develop pupil knowledge and understanding.
The Musician of the month is chosen to reflect the Model Music Curriculum.
Please click on the image below to explore the Musician of the Month knowledge organisers.
