Music
Music
Intent
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all children:
- 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 Radford Semele, children experience and gain a deep understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. We believe all children are able to develop a love of music and curiosity for the subject, in addition to developing appreciation for a wide range of music, cultures and communities. We are dedicated to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Implementation
Music is taught discretely through a weekly music lesson. Across the year, each class will work through 4 units from the Charanga Musical School scheme. In addition to this, as part of Masterclass all KS1 and KS2 classes will have whole class instrument tuition for half a term, taught by a specialist music teacher.
Each unit of work from Charanga Musical School covers the following strands of musical learning from the national curriculum for music:
• Listening and appraising
• Musical activities including singing, playing instruments, improvising and composing
• Performing and sharing
The Charanga units that we deliver at Radford Semele ensure that all children have the opportunity to listen to, enjoy and appreciate a wide range of different genres of music and build upon previously learnt skills. Due to the sequenced nature of lessons, children’s prior knowledge is revisited alongside multiple opportunities to review, deepen, remember and apply their understanding. Children have frequent opportunities to consider the elements of music, taught in each classroom lesson to enhance their understanding of the language of music, understanding how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed.
Impact
The musicality of our pupils is celebrated and shared throughout the year in our Songs of Praise Collective Worship, performances to parents and through musical concerts. Ongoing assessment takes place throughout the year, including in Reception where children are assessed within the Early Learning Goals. Teachers use this information to inform future lessons; ensuring children are supported and challenged appropriately. Assessments are analysed and gaps in attainment are addressed.
Progression in Music
Recent pupil voice highlighted the following:
“I love being part of choir as it allows me to express myself and show my talent to the rest of the school” (A pupil in Year 5)
“I enjoy music lessons because they are fun and really exciting!” (A pupil in Year 2)
“Music is my favourite subject because we get to experiment with lots of instruments and it allows me to be creative and free” (A pupil in Year 6)
“I look forward to our choir’s performance each week in Celebration of Achievement assembly” (A pupil in Year 4)
Reception have been learning about different percussion instruments - naming them and discovering how to play them.
Well done to all of the children who performed in our school concert for the parents and carers of children who work with music specialist, Mr Hudson. We are super proud of you all!
We were very lucky to have a special Collective Worship with a musical visitor who shared many different instruments with the school. We also learnt about the science behind music and how sound is produced by the different instruments. Our favourites were the flute, trombone and trumpet!
Our fabulous school choir rehearse every Tuesday lunchtime, practising a new song each week to share with the whole school every Friday in our Celebration of Achievement assemblies. It is always such a treat to hear their beautiful arrangements of popular songs including; Space Man, Cover Me in Sunshine, Roar and Hold Back the River. Thank you to Mrs Reynolds who works incredibly hard and gives up her time to support our wonderful choir.
Year 2 working collaboratively on their instrument skills during masterclass with music specialist Mr Hudson.
Year 2 and Year 3 performed so brilliantly during their Rocksteady concert. You were all so fabulous, rock on!
Year 4 also did such a great job at their Rocksteady concert. Well done everyone on such a brilliant performance!
Year 4 are extremely lucky to work with Hannah from Warwickshire Sings every fortnight for the whole year! We have been learning how to use our voices correctly as instruments, staff notation and lots of fun, vocal exercises.
Year 5 had a fabulous time performing at Young Voices 2024 at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. You were AMAZING!
Music specialist Mr Hudson working with children on their ukulele skills.
Music specialist Mr Hudson working with children on their guitar skills.
Year 4 performed many wonderful songs as part of their Harvest service. Our favourite was “It’s Harvest Time!” as we loved the harmonies and the sound of our voices blending together. Some children even bravely wrote and performed their own songs, very musically creative!
Year 5 and 6 did a wonderful job of celebrating Christmas with their carol concert. They performed in the church and we were treated to fantastic singing and solo musical performances. Year 6 wrote and read festive poems and prayers. Well done Children!
Year 2 explored how to play the dhol drum as part of India day.
