Music Subject Leader: Miss K Semark
Intent
At Ditton C of E Junior School, our aim is to inspire a love of music in our children, to develop their talents as musicians and for them to be confident performers, whether in front of an audience or for their own pleasure. By the time they leave our school, they will have: experienced playing a variety of instruments (glockenspiels, recorders, boomwhackers); developed their singing voices and listened to a broad range of music.
Our music curriculum follows the requirements of the National Curriculum and is adapted from the Charanga music scheme, which has an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. Each music unit introduces them to a different musical style and interweaves the following strands:
- Listening and Appraising
- Musical Activities: warm-up games; singing; playing instruments; improvisation and composition
- Performing
Implementation
Singing is at the heart of this curriculum, and the weekly music lessons, of at least 45 minutes, are typically based around a song. Lessons are designed to enable children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning of musical skills.
Music is also promoted outside lesson time. We have weekly singing assemblies where the children learn music linked to collective worship and the main church services of the year: Harvest, Christmas and Easter. Peripatetic music teachers also come into school providing individual and group lessons. In years 5 and 6 children are able to take part in the Young Voices concert at the O2.
Impact
Children will develop an understanding of the different components of musical structure and will be able to enjoy music as a listener, creators or performers. Children will be able to identify music from different historical periods and discuss the similarities and differences between various musical genres.
Progression of Skills
SEND Information
Interventions, support, and challenges are constantly revised and adapted to ensure all children are supported in achieving learning. Learning is robustly and continuously monitored and assessed to ensure gaps in learning are addressed. Teachers and support staff offer adaptive teaching to enable access for all, and may provide scaffolds, pre-teaching, and other support and intervention, as outlined in the Kent Mainstream Core Standards. Pupils may also be supported to access learning through the use of Clicker software.