Okehampton Primary School

Music Statement of Intent

Intent

“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.”

Stevie Wonder

At Okehampton Primary School, we make music an enjoyable learning experience where children are encouraged and supported in building the skills needed to express themselves musically. We are dedicated to facilitating the opportunities and learning necessary for every child to find their own, unique musical voice.

We aim to provide a music curriculum that inspires children to explore and enjoy singing, composing and performing in a variety of different ways as a means to build confidence, develop creativity and produce a unique sense of achievement and fulfilment. As with all subjects at Okehampton Primary, we are determined that children who are at risk of underachieving have their needs skilfully and consistently met. We strive to give every child equal opportunity to succeed in their musical knowledge and experience regardless of their starting point on their journey of musical discovery.

Implementation

Our teaching curriculum is centred around the Voices Foundation, a national music charity in line with the National Curriculum, through which children are taught to sing and play instruments via an accessible format all can engage and enjoy music from. In each lesson, the children are given the opportunities to learn, understand and apply musical terminology as they explore a variety of different songs, genres and singing based skills. As the children progress through the school, this terminology is built upon to enable each child to fully immerse themselves in musical appreciation and evaluation. To accompany each lesson, we also have a wide range of instruments on hand from full class sets of Ukuleles and Melodicas to African drums and Glockenspiels as well as a variety of tutors offering excellent 1:1 lessons in our music studio.

Impact

Each child at Okehampton Primary School receives a wide and enriching curriculum, both in the classroom and beyond, which inspires an appreciation of music that extends well beyond their primary education. All areas of our Voices Foundation based curriculum addresses and delivers a clear progression of skills and knowledge to enable all learners to access and demonstrate at an age-appropriate level. In each year group, there is always clear enthusiasm and excitement when music is being taught as these skills are applied, challenged and developed through a range of engaging and inspiring musical activities and performance opportunities.

Joe Skinner - Music Lead for Okehampton Primary School

Aims

The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians,
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence.
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

EYFS/Nursery

Charanga:

Me!

Charanga:

My Stories!

Exploring vocal sounds and finding the singing voice

Solo singing of songs and applying the thinking voice

Feeling the pulse games

Exploring instrument sounds

Vocal Play – Practicing previous songs

Singing songs learnt as a group

Y1

Charanga:

Hey You!

Charanga:

Rhythm in the way we walk and Banana Rap

Finding the singing voice and being ready for singing (posture, instructions etc.)

Using Unit 1 and 2 Songs and games to explore Pitch

Singing collectively to explore pitch and ensemble singing

(Units 3 and 4)

Listening and thinking to recognise and explore pitch and dynamics

(Units 5 and 7)

 Applying our songs to instruments to explore rhythm and dynamics

(Percussion)

(Units 6 and 8)

Y2

Charanga:

Hands, Feet, Heart

Charanga:

Ho Ho Ho

Finding the singing voice and being ready for singing (posture, instructions etc.)

Using Unit 1 and 2 Songs and games to explore Pitch

Singing collectively to explore pitch and ensemble singing

(Units 3 and 4)

 Applying our songs to instruments to explore rhythm and dynamics

(Percussion)

(Units 6 and 8)

Listening and thinking to recognise and explore pitch and dynamics

(Units 5 and 7) 

Y3

Charanga:

Let your spirit fly

Charanga:

Glockenspiel Stage 1

Finding the singing voice and being ready for singing (posture, instructions etc.)

Using Unit 1 and 2 Songs and games to explore Pitch

Singing collectively

Using Unit 3 and 4 games and songs to explore dynamics and timbre

Understanding rhythm, pulse and metre by applying songs learnt to instruments

(Units 5 and 7)

Using the voice to understand phrase, dynamics and rhythm

(Units 6 and 8)

Y4

Charanga:

Mamma Mia

Charanga:

Glockenspiel Stage 2

Finding the singing voice and being ready for singing (posture, instructions etc.)

Using Unit 1 and 2 Songs and games to explore Pitch

Singing collectively

Using Unit 3 and 4 games and songs to explore dynamics and timbre

Using the voice to understand phrase, dynamics and rhythm

(Units 6 and 8)

Understanding rhythm, pulse and metre by applying songs learnt to instruments

(Units 5 and 7)

Y5

Charanga:

Livin’ on a prayer

Charanga:

Classroom Jazz 1

Finding the singing voice and being ready for singing (posture, instructions etc.)

Using Unit 1 and 2 Songs and games to explore Pitch

Singing collectively

Using Unit 3 and 4 games and songs to explore dynamics and timbre

Understanding rhythm, pulse and metre by applying songs learnt to instruments

(Units 5 and 7)

Using the voice to understand phrase, dynamics and rhythm

(Units 6 and 8)

Y6

Charanga:

Happy

Charanga:

Classroom Jazz 2

Finding the singing voice and being ready for singing (posture, instructions etc.)

Using Unit 1 and 2 Songs and games to explore Pitch

Singing collectively

Using Unit 3 and 4 games and songs to explore dynamics and timbre

Using the voice to understand phrase, dynamics and rhythm

(Units 6 and 8)

Understanding rhythm, pulse and metre by applying songs learnt to instruments

(Units 5 and 7)