Stonham AspalIntent
At Stonham Aspal CEVA Primary School, we pay for a subscription to the ‘Music Express’ online scheme. Music Express has been written by leading experts in Primary Music Education, incorporating high quality, engaging music lessons with careful progression built in. The scheme encompasses the 6 strands of appraising, listening, composing, improvising and exploring, playing instruments and singing. In Early Years, the scheme provides structured scaffolding for musical experiences, including opportunities to listen to and respond to music, singing songs and skill builder activities for beat, rhythm and pitch to be used alongside enhanced provision. Embedded throughout the scheme are the musical features of rhythm, metre and tempo, pitch and melody, harmony, texture, dynamics and articulation and instruments and playing techniques.
Embedded throughout music activities are the school’s six core Christian values of peace, kindness, love, wisdom, respect, courage and patience.
Implementation
Each class has a discreet music session in their timetable, usually once a week.
From Reception to Year 4 the learning consists of 12 short units of work. In Key stage 1, each unit of work has an ongoing musical learning focus such as exploring sounds, beat, pitch and performance. In Year 3 and 4 children progress onto composition, structure and notation in addition to exploring sounds, beat, pitch and performance.
In Year 6, the children learn through 6 half-termly units, with each unit culminating in an opportunity to perform a variety of styles.
Year 5 has input from Suffolk County Music Service, whereby children learn a tuned instrument such as the trumpet, ukele or flute in their weekly music lessons and take part in a performance either in school or a local venue.
We also embed Music across the entire curriculum, for example, linking it to PE: Dance lessons, singing songs and hymns in Collective worship and performances such as the Harvest and Easter Services in church as well as visiting the local theatre to watch pantomime productions where children experience live music performances, we are always looking to expand the opportunities for children to experience music, for example with a recent visit to Snape for the 'Big Sing' concert.
We encourage extra curricular activities as part of a healthy balanced and respectful lifestyle such as peripatetic guitar and piano lessons and enjoy supporting children’s talents through whole school performances both in school and in the community.
We have a very popular Rock Steady club, where children have the opportunity to learn a music instrument and join a band.
Impact
Our learners will be inspired to evaluate songs, play tuned and untuned percussion instruments, improvise and compose their own melodies and be able to discuss musical styles and elements whilst building their confidence in their musical ability. They will develop their understanding of rhythm and pitch and learn how music is structured, as well as forming an understanding of technical vocabulary and musical terms such as tempo, riff and harmony. Through music lessons, children will have a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage and be enabled to become positive citizens in society.
Please use the following link to view the whole school curriculum map
Please use the following the link to view the whole school skills progression