Intent The music curriculum at Wellesley Primary School is based on the principle that it should be fun and engaging for all children. All children have the capability to be musicians and music plays a role in every aspect of our lives. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. We want to ensure that all children perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians. The children will learn to sing, create and compose music independently and with their peers, and have the opportunity to learn to play instruments including un-tuned percussion, ukulele, recorders, glockenspiels and keyboards. The children are also exposed to a range of genres of music in assemblies through entrance and exit music. We promote singing as much as possible and provide opportunities for children to sing, for example in assemblies and Key Stage 2 children can take part in the Christmas choir each year. Implementation We follow the Charanga scheme of work which meets all the statutory curricular requirements in the National Curriculum for England and is supported by the West of England Music and Arts service. The Charanga Musical School Scheme provides the opportunity for children to learn music through a practical and exploratory approach. The interrelated dimensions of music (pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and notation) weave through units in each year group to encourage the development of musical skills as the learning progresses through listening and appraising, differing musical activities (including creating and exploring) and performing. Our curriculum enables children to understand musical concepts through repetition-based learning which enables children to have more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills. Impact At Wellesley, we have developed a music curriculum that builds on children’s prior experiences and allows them the opportunity to revisit key ideas and concepts which will enable them to have a deeper understanding of music. This means that children will be prepared for their next stage of education by teaching the skills, knowledge and attitudes they will need in the future. Children are assessed through class discussions during the listening and appraising step in lessons, observations and through any written work they may complete e.g. notes about compositions.
