The Music Curriculum at South Street 

Music Curriculum Aims

At South Street Community Primary School, we believe that our Music curriculum should engage and inspire all of our children. Through building a positive relationship with Music, we believe that all children will succeed in the subject regardless of potential barriers to learning and previous experiences of the subject. Throughout their time at South Street, our children will learn about a range music from different styles, cultures, eras and genres. We also take inspiration from our local community and learn about the rich tradition of music in the North East.

Our programme of study focuses on listening, performing and composing and uses a variety of instruments, tuned and un-tuned percussion. By being able to think and speak critically about their performances and compositions, and those of others, children at South Street will become creative and confident musicians and composers.

Implementation

Each topic will include listening to and discussing music using appropriate musical vocabulary.  We will develop our instrumental and vocal skills through practising and performing using our vocals and a variety of different instruments.  We revisit different instruments throughout the curriculum so that previous skills and technique can be revised and developed further each time.  All projects will focus on developing musicality and most will involve a composition task where children compose in the style of the music that they have been studying.  At the end of a project, children will listen to each-others performances and/or compositions and will give each other constructive feedback to allow themselves and their peers to further develop their skills.  Students will be taught to read stave notation and other appropriate forms of notation and will use these to notate their own compositions. 

Singing is important in our curriculum, with singing assemblies taking place once a week as well as being a key part of curriculum music lessons in Key Stage 1 and 2.  All of our children are taught the importance of vocal health and warming up properly, learning a variety of vocal warm ups and songs which will help them develop their tone and expand their range. 

In Key Stage 2, we have whole class ukulele lessons delivered by Gateshead Music Service.

 We like to be involved in the community by carol singing at our local care homes and performing in our community.

What you will see in a South Street Music Lesson

• Engaging and inspiring lessons that promote creativity and curiosity.
• Children are given the opportunity to practise skills in a variety of ways with each lesson building upon prior learning.
• High-quality instruction and questioning: with carefully planned, sequenced and modelled lessons and modelling of skills and techniques that build on children’s knowledge and skills.
• Achievement and Inclusion for all: All activities are planned, scaffolded and adapted where needed to ensure every child at South Street can achieve in music.
• Practical instrumental and/or vocal activities in every lesson.
• Frequent opportunities for children to discuss and review their learning.
• Retrieval of previous learning and explicit links that connect new learning with what the children already know.
• An emphasis on correct and ambitious vocabulary.  
• High-quality verbal feedback during lessons.

Impact: Progress in our curriculum is measured by children knowing more and remembering more.

The impact of our teaching in music is measured using formative assessments throughout the year based on progress towards the objectives of the National Curriculum. Our Music Lead monitors progress for all children through support and monitoring. If we are meeting our aims all of our children will be able to talk passionately and knowledgeably about music and demonstrate their progression as a musician.  All children should feel confident to perform as a group with their peers both vocally and instrumentally.

If you would like further information about the curriculum, please contact Mrs Wynn in the school office.