Music

Intent

At Brentside Primary Academy we make music learning a fun, enjoyable experience which will enable each child to reach their full musical potential. The intention is that children gain a strong understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, composing and evaluating across a wide variety of musical styles, traditions and historical periods. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences with the opportunity to perform in front of an audience both within and outside of school. Incorporating music into all aspects of our school environment allows our children to develop confidence, self – esteem, social and communication skills, creativity, concentration, expression and sense of achievement.

Children will also have the opportunity to learn to play and master specific instruments within school and from home. This empowers children to care and establish responsibility for their instruments and form a solid structure of disciplined practice.

Implementation

The music curriculum is centred on sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the music classroom through activities with our music teacher as well as the weekly singing assemblies, choirs, after school clubs, various concerts and performances, and the learning of instruments throughout the school week. The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to explore it, and understand how it is composed, played, appreciated and analysed.

They also learn how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, composing and performing using body percussion and vocal sounds. This develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument. In the classroom students have an opportunity to learn how to play an instrument, from all four main instrument groups. This enables children to appreciate the different principle of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. As children get older, we expect them to maintain their concentration for longer and to listen to more extended pieces of music, incorporating technologies such as ‘Garage Band’, facilitating the children to compose and produce their own musical pieces. 

Impact

Each child at Brentside Primary Academy will receive a broad and balanced curriculum regardless of year group or ability. Whilst in school, children have access to a varied music programme, which allows students to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon or further aspire to. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world.

Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer and learn to work both independently and as part of a group, ensuring skills of resilience and teamwork are promoted in this subject. We build on the musical horizons of each child and we strongly believe that children should be given the opportunity to share their musical skills at different events both in and outside school. It is our aim that each child becomes a confident performer.  We support each child who may be less confident and encourage them to flourish.