Music

The Teaching of Music

Our music curriculum is designed to deliver high-quality lesson which inspire a love for music and support our pupils in becoming musicians. This is achieved through providing opportunities to listen to, compose, perform and appraise a range of musical styles and genres whilst having the opportunity to know and play a variety of instruments to encourage expression and creativity. 

We deliver the Primary National Curriculum for Music in KS1 and KS2 and we have identified objectives from the EYFS Statutory Framework that are prerequisites for this learning. We have ensured a progressive coverage for all year groups by adopting the Music Express scheme of work which we have mapped to meet the needs of our mixed age class structure. This supports teacher confidence and subject knowledge but also provides the children with high quality learning opportunities. Our curriculum allows the children to revisit key knowledge and skills several times during their time with us; this allows them to develop a deep understanding of the main ideas of music. The progression map below shows the knowledge and skills that we expect children to leave Braithwaite CE School with.

Teaching units have been carefully sequenced which give all children the essential knowledge they need in order to achieve the objectives regardless of which year they are in. We recognise children will have differing prior knowledge depending on whether they are in Y3, Y4, Y5 or Y6 so this approach not only gives children an opportunity to revisit and practice existing concepts but also secure key knowledge for those who may have gaps, allowing all children to move on to a deep level of learning later in the term when they work towards a final end of year performance. 

Our music curriculum is supplemented by occasional workshops by specialist music teachers as well as weekly singing assembly.  Music provision is planned as an integral part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.  All pupils take part in a school Christmas and Easter service which comprises singing, readings and some drama/acting.

We take part in the Young Voices Concert in Manchester on alternate years, along with over 7000 young people from across the region.

A peripatetic teacher visits the school to teach violin. These musicians take part in services, play at special events and perform in assemblies.