Subjects: Music

 

Our music projects are well sequenced to develop children’s skills and knowledge of music theory and practical skills - playing instruments and singing. 

Where possible, projects with similar resources are spaced out to have as little strain on resources as possible. For example, while LKS2 are learning about singing, UKS2 may be learning about pitched percussion.

Our music is split into four key strands: music appreciation and appraisal, composer and musical style study, practical music skills, and performance. Underpinning all of these strands is the teaching of music theory which is woven throughout all lessons to enable children to develop a strong foundation of music knowledge.

While all these strands is of equal importance, it is performance which has the widest impact on the children. This area of music develops children’s resilience and confidence which can, in turn, support wellbeing and social-skills.

 

Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1, children will begin by learning how to sing, which will tie in nicely with their rehearsals for the Nativity at the end of the autumn term. The children will learn to use their voices tunefully and in time, as well as beginning to explore singing loudly and softly.

The children will then learn about pitched percussion, extending their knowledge of pitch and melody to begin learning how to play the glockenspiel. The children will be taught simple melodies and will begin to understand that these notes can be written down.

The children will end the year by playing unpitched percussion, making good use of our wonderful range of musical instruments. The children will learn how to play in time with a simple beat and will even compose their own rhythmic pieces to perform in 4/4 time!

Throughout all this, the children will develop knowledge of musical styles and composers, listening to high quality music and sharing their opinions about it.

 

Lower Key Stage 2

In Lower Key Stage 2, children begin the year with an unpitched percussion unit. Here, the children are encouraged to play their instruments in one of two ways – following a particular rhythmic pattern, or in a creative way to represent a scene. For example, the children may use the instruments to create a stormy soundscape, representing rain, thunder and wind.

In the spring term, LKS2 will learn to sing! This will develop their knowledge from KS1 as they will not only be expected to sing in tune, but will learn how to sing in parts, by singing in round or in harmony. The children will also engage in some composition, writing their own verses to a simple round to perform to their peers.

LKS2 will end the school year by exploring pitched percussion, once again returning to the glockenspiels. While in KS1, children will only touch on the idea of music being written symbolically, LKS2 will dive head first into the world of music notation, learning to write music notes on a stave. The children will be encouraged to compose simple melodies which they can play and will then learn to write them symbolically – thus a new generation of composers is born!

Throughout all this, the children will develop knowledge of musical styles and composers, listening to high quality music and sharing their opinions about it, developing a knowledge of the history of music and drawing links between different musical styles and composers’ work.

 

Upper Key Stage 2

In Upper Key Stage 2, the year begins with pitched percussion and composition. This will build upon the knowledge from LKS2 where the children will begin to compose more complex pieces of music on the glockenspiel. The children will learn about different rhythmic patterns and note types in order to add variation to their music and will learn how to play simple melodies in different time signatures.

After Christmas, UKS2 will begin their unpitched percussion unit. This is where the children will continue developing their knowledge and understanding of time signature. While in KS1 and lower KS2, the children will largely be playing in 4/4, the most common and simple time signature, in UKS2, the children will come to understand that music can be played in different ways, with stresses on different beats, or different numbers of beats altogether!

UKS2 will close the year with a singing and composition unit where they will learn to write parodies and sing them with increasing tunefulness and awareness of others when singing in an ensemble. The children will write lyrics to their songs, considering the rhythmic structure of each line and choosing appropriate words to fit this rhythm – a challenging skill! The children will also explore dynamics, loud and soft, as well as expression and articulation, in order to make their music more enjoyable for an audience.

Throughout all this, the children will develop knowledge of musical styles and composers, listening to high quality music and sharing their opinions about it, developing a secure knowledge of the history of music and drawing links between different musical styles and composers’ work.