INTENT

At St Marie’s we believe in - ensuring that all pupils: 

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music 

• Be taught to sing, create and compose music 

• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated. 

At Saint Marie’s our intention is that children gain a firm understanding of music through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. We want our children to develop a curiosity and appreciation of music, be involved in musical activities and be able to understand and use the technical language associated with the subject.

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IMPLEMENTATION

Music lessons are delivered weekly by teachers or HLTA. 

The teaching of music is delivered weekly in Year 4, by a specialist teacher from Wigan Music Wider Opportunities. 

  

Children are taught to describe key characteristics as well as understand and use technical terminology and specialist vocabulary. 

Whilst gathering together for whole school assemblies, children will listen to a wide range of classical music, introducing them to composers and their work, and enabling them to identify and appreciate different styles and genres. 

  

Children will undertake independent work, and will have the opportunity to work in groups and discuss work with peers. 

  

Lessons focus on a wide range of musical skills and understanding, including the following: 

  

• Singing in tune and alongside others. 

• Structure and organisation of music. 

• Appreciating different forms of music. 

• Listening to music, progressing to extended pieces of music as pupils move through year groups. 

• Representing feelings and emotions through music. 

• Recognising pulse and pitch. 

• Using the voices of others to combine and make different sounds. 

• Musical notation and how to compose music. 

  

Planning of the music curriculum is tailored towards three areas of progress: 

  

• Increasing breadth and range of musical experiences. 

• Increasing challenge and difficulty in musical activities. 

• Increasing confidence, sensitivity and creativity in pupils’ music-making. 

  

The school uses Charranga as a music scheme to support these areas of progress. 

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IMPACT

The majority of children achieve age related expectations in music at the end of their cohort year. Evidence for this is gathered through pupil voice, observations and ongoing formative self/peer/teacher assessment. At the end of each academic year teachers assess children against age related expectations and this is communicated to parents and governors. 

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At the end of year 4 children become percussion specialists after a year of specialist teaching from the Wigan Music Service and this also provides CPD for our staff. 

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Children can dissect music, comprehend its parts and discuss using the key vocabulary. 

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They can sing and feel a pulse. 

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All children gain audience performance experience though regular performances to whole school, parents and local and wider community. We are passionate in providing enrichment experiences such as Music Ministry, community singing, collaborative concerts with other local schools which celebrate our children’s confidence and skill in music. 

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Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer.