Music
What does Music at Bledlow Ridge school look like?
Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon. (The National Curriculum) Music teaching at Bledlow Ridge School aims to follow the specifications of the National Curriculum; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum and ensuring the progressive development of musical concepts, knowledge and skills. At Bledlow Ridge School we believe that music plays an integral role in helping children to feel part of a community, therefore we provide opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music both in class and to an audience. Through assemblies and key stage performances, children showcase their talent and their understanding of performing with awareness of others. Lessons enable children to develop their skills, appreciate a wide variety of music and begin to appraise a range of musical genres. At Bledlow Ridge School we use Music Express to deliver lessons ensuring development and progression in the key aspects of Music learning. We supplement our planning with BBC 10 Pieces which gives the children in KS2 an opportunity for extended composition and critical evaluation of their work.
IMPLEMENTATION
As a whole school approach, we follow the ‘Music Express scheme’ in which children take part in weekly music lessons. The scheme follows a range of topics, embeds and builds upon prior skills to ensure a full and comprehensive coverage of the National Curriculum. We ensure that skills taught in the scheme are reflected and built upon within our classrooms to continue to develop the musical understanding of every child as they progress through the key stages. Additionally to music lessons, children in KS1 and KS2 are also given the opportunity to learn an instrument with a specialist music teacher (Year 1 - Year 4 learn recorders and Year 5 and 6 learn a brass instrument). Children take part in regular performances to show what they have learn to the school and their carers. In EYFS, music is interwoven into daily routines and children have the opportunity to explore music in provision areas and develop ideas modelled by adults such as creating their own songs to well-known tunes. Children are encouraged to explore different everyday objects and the sounds that they can make as well as using these to make up rhythms and patterns.
KS1 and KS2 children take part in weekly singing practice where they learn new songs and practice songs that have already been taught. We also offer school choir club which children can join to build on the skills they are developing and share a love and enjoyment of listening, performing and responding to music. We welcome parents to our productions throughout the year to share the musical ability we have at our school.
Impact
Through the child’s journey at Bledlow Ridge School, their musical skills and understanding are built on year on year, from singing simple songs from memory and performing simple rhythm patterns in EYFS and KS1, to more advanced techniques skills, and understanding in lower KS2, further developing in upper KS2 where the children have the ability to read and follow a simple musical score. Throughout all of this, the child’s enjoyment of music is a key element, running alongside the taught musical skills and objectives.
“Music education can help spark a child's imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion. When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless. Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child's world of possibility.” Hillary Clinton