Intent
At Northgate we would like our children to experience a wide range of musical genres, explore their creativity and develop a love and appreciation for performing. The aim of our curriculum is:
For our children to gain a sense of belonging through music’s ability to bring people together to create, perform, listen and appreciate what we hear and compose. It gives us the ability to accept the importance of all types of music as well as developing an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to them individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world.
For our children to gain confidence in communicating through the universal language of music that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. Our music curriculum intends to inspire self-expression and encourages them on their musical journeys as well as giving them opportunities to connect with others.
For our children to gain a resilient attitude through fostering a life long love of music by exposing them to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music. By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers, performers and as composers, will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians.
Implementation
All Northgate pupils including nursery and reception have a weekly music lesson. This is delivered using the Charanga Music Scheme and our musician in residence who teaches all music lessons from year 1 to year 6. All key stage 1 and 2 children receive 45 minutes a week of specialist tuition. Reception have a 30 minute lesson with their teacher.
Northgate pupils in Key Stage 1 and 2 are following the New Model Music Curriculum produced by the Government using the Charanga progression document as basis of their learning. In addition to this each morning as they come into class they are exposed to a piece of music coving all musical genres that they listen to and appraise at the end of the week. The music lists for each year group are directly taken from the New Model Music Curriculum and are enhanced with different tracks for special occasions.
Charanga is an online interactive resource to support musical learning in an engaging way. It has a huge library of music covering an extensive range of composers and musicians which is used as a resource to support our specialist teachers lessons.
In Key Stage 1 children are taught to play the Glockenspiel for 2 terms and then learn an alternative instrument for a term which is the Keyboard during their lessons. Learning about the importance of pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo and the structure of a piece of music. Children are encouraged to use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and learning to play tuned and untuned instruments musically.
Key Stage 2 have a specialist music teacher for 45 minutes a week who is teaching them to play the keyboard, glockenspiel, Ukulele. During their time working with our music specialist, children will learn additional elements of music like dynamics, texture and timbre. They will develop their skills to sing and play musical instruments with accuracy, fluency, control and expression. They develop the understanding of musical improvisation and composition. Learn to play together to perform in ensemble groups.
In addition to this we work with Rocksteady who provide additional music lessons in the context of a band. The offer the opportunity for children to learn to sing, play the drums, electric guitar and keyboard.
At Northgate we have 2 choirs. Our infant choir is open to year 1 and year 2 and meet after school once a week for 25 minutes on a Tuesday lunchtime. Our Junior choir is open to years 3-6 and they also meet after school for an hour each week. We work towards performances within our school community and our wider community. We work closely with the Great Yarmouth Schools Music Association.
We also have regular singing assemblies to develop all our children’s ability to sing together in a much larger setting and exposing them different music. They provide a way to increase the sense of community within our school as well as help our pupils’ physical and mental well-being and their musicality.
We aim to offer regular opportunities for our pupils to work with professional musician on projects like into opera, Year 5 Orchestra’s Live and BBC Concert Orchestra’s, The 100 Years project again working with the BBC concert Orchestra and the Norfolk Music Hubs Big Sing. We aim to provide children with the opportunity to see professional musicians in action, for example year 6 watched the London Mozart Players and pupils have the opportunity to see local pantomimes and take part in the Norfolk Music Hubs Music live week.
Impact
At Northgate we know that all of our children are musical and we ensure that they have equal access to the music curriculum so they can all reach their potential. We aim to represent the work of performers and composers throughout history, from different cultures, races and sexes to promote positive role models and a balanced perspective about music and musicians for all children. Pupils are encouraged to extend their skills by taking part in clubs, choirs, instrumental lessons and perform in concerts.
By the end of Key Stage 2 pupils should be able to:
- Play and perform in solos and ensembles, using their voices and playing musical instruments with control, expression and fluency.
- Improvise and compose music for different purposes.
- Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds.
- Use and understand Musical Notations.
- Appreciate and understand a wide range of music drawn from different genres, cultures, traditions, composers and musicians.
● Develop an understanding of the history of music.
MUSIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2024 TO 2025