Music
We follow the requirements of the National Curriculum in music.
At WCPS we aim to enable our children to use the universal language of music within a curriculum that promotes the love of music and use of talent in a variety of contexts.
Exposing children to music during early development helps them to learn the sounds and meanings of words. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to develop their musical potential and we aim to nurture and encourage musical development across the school.
At WCPS we believe in the value of music to increase children's self-confidence, resilience, creativity and sense of achievement. We also believe it contributes to the development of positive relationships between children, promoting a culture of respect and belonging.
We recognise that music is a specialist subject and not all teachers are musical specialists. We have adopted the Charanga Musical School package to supplement our music curriculum.
Music is taught weekly. Each unit of work has a unit specific focus to enable previous musical skills to be embedded. Music lessons usually follow a specific learning sequence:
- Listen and Appraise
- Musical Activities (including pulse and rhythm)
- Singing and Voice
- Playing instruments
- Composition
- Perform and Share
Our progression model also follows the same learning sequence to ensure all interrelated elements of music are covered and implemented.
At WCPS music lessons are practical and engaging. Lessons typically involve a combination of the following; games, songs, challenges, listening to music and discussing music, playing a range of musical instruments, performing back, finding the pulse and composing music. Open ended tasks are provided that can have a variety of responses and teachers also differentiate activities using the Charanga Bronze, Silver and Gold challenges. Music teaching is not only focused on performance but also providing our pupils with an understanding and appreciation for music.
Listening to and appraising music from a wide range of genres is a large part of the music curriculum, allowing the children to experience music and musical styles and artists that they might have never heard of before. Each day, children listen to a different piece of music and discuss the style, how it makes them feel and likes/dislikes.
Teachers incorporate opportunities to assess prior learning and frequent pauses to recap on knowledge and vocabulary taught to date. They plan to revisit topics already taught at a later point in the year – ensuring that children are knowing more, remembering more and understanding more.
In Nursery and Reception, children begin to build a repertoire of songs and imitate movements in response to music they hear. They use different instruments to experiment and explore the different sounds made. Music lessons take place both inside and outside the classroom, exploring the environment and creating new sounds using everyday objects. Music is taught cross curricular in lessons such as in phonics with syllables being clapped, phonics songs and sounds focussing at early listening skills. Oral rehearsing of familiar nursery rhymes and stories are practised daily, using sound effects in stories.
Children in Year 3 take part in the Wider Opportunities programme which allows children the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in curriculum time in a large group or whole class setting. Our Year 3’s are currently learning to play a woodwind instrument (recorder). Instruments are provided free of charge for pupils to borrow for the duration of the year. The children take part in a concert to play their instrument to peers and parents and celebrate their achievements.
Enrichment
Alongside our curriculum provision for Music, pupils also have the opportunity to participate in additional 1:1 music teaching. Pupils are offered the opportunity to learn a musical instrument with peripatetic teachers. Our peripatetic music lessons are provided weekly for a small set fee paid by the child’s parent or carer and instruments in the past have included: guitar, piano, keyboard and violin. Pupils that learn a musical instrument have the opportunity to sit examinations and perform for parents and whole school assemblies.
Wigan School’s Music Service provide a KS1 and KS2 concert each year, which we attend with a chosen year group. They learn songs for the festival and make a hat/mask or other prop to take with them to join in with the other schools who attend.
WCPS have a school choir who meet after school to practise focusing on singing in unison, developing harmony, team work but most importantly having fun! The school choir have the opportunity to sing at school events and outside concerts such as the Peace Concert and Young Voices.
We enjoy watching performances from the rock band from our local feeder school each year who come to show children what it’s like to play an instrument at high school. This is always well received by the children who join in clapping along with the rhythm of the song.
Assessment
Children are assessed against their understanding of the topics taught.
How can I help my child at home?
We experience music from an early age and it’s important to talk about how music makes them feel. Different songs and musical genres will have different effects on a child and this can be explored through movement and dance. Listening to different musicians will allow your child to build an eclectic taste for music.