Music

STATEMENT OF INTENT

At Sylvester Primary Academy, it is the intent that our children will gain a strong understanding of what music is through; listening and appraising, singing and playing instruments, evaluating, analysing and composing across a variety of music genres, historical periods, styles and traditions. Our aim is for pupils to develop a love of music and to expand their understanding of music and performance; ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community.

Our music curriculum is taught through Kapow from Reception to Year 6. Kapow incorporates many opportunities to listen to a range of artists, sing and play instruments. As children progress through school, they are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of contexts. We provide a music curriculum that empowers individuals to partake in one of the highest art forms, that promotes self-confidence, self-esteem and gives all pupils a sense of achievement.

M​usic Development Plan 23-26

HOW WE TEACH MUSIC

At Sylvester Primary Academy, Music is taught in accordance with the English programmes of study set out in the National Curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2.

Our condensed curriculum long term plan abstracts units which cover key skills and knowledge in only 20 lessons. We have ensured there is a range of musical styles covered and that the inter-related dimensions of music (pulse, pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure, appropriate musical notation) are given similar attention in terms of coverage. This version of our long-term plan can be used if teaching Music in a two-week or half termly cycle or block teaching foundation subjects.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Please view our long-term whole school overviews for Music.

SEND ADAPTATIONS

Music lessons at Sylvester are fully inclusive and aim to meet the specific, individual needs of all children across the school. We aim to ensure that children with SEND are fully engaged and challenged in music lessons. There is no one-size fits all approach for our SEND pupils in music. Effective adaptation depends on understanding and meeting the individual needs of pupils. All pupils benefit from instruction

Lessons will incorporate many of the following to help SEND children reach their full potential in music: differentiated teaching strategies, targeted adult support, scaffolded support or adapted resources. Teachers use a wide variety of differentiation and pedagogical strategies to help achieve full inclusivity. An example of how we help children with specific cognitive and learning needs may be short pre-teaching activities prior to a lesson. Children’s physical and sensory needs may be met through use of different font sizes, coloured texts, an adult scribe or individual ipads. Social and emotional needs will be met through different strategies such as: visual timetables and objectives; clear expectations for individuals prior to lessons beginning; and bespoke pupil groupings for activities.

• Lots of opportunities for overlearning and repetition.
• Visual support- key vocabulary- new and technical vocabulary, images/symbols of instruments/actual instruments. Hand signals/agreed movements for musical dimensions.
• Positioning of seats for whole class teaching- semicircle, rows (think about pairings)
• Ear defenders for children who will find the noise level difficult.
• Using iPad to record learning/progress.

CURRICULUM ENRICHMENT

Pupils at Sylvester practise their music skills through specific music lessons, as well as enrichment opportunities. Engagement with Music is also promoted through the school enrichment with children having access to the school choir, rocksteady music school and the Liverpool singing choir. On top of this, the children are also provided with a variety of music enrichment activities across the academic year. These enrichment activities include: International Music Day, Young Voices Concert, Christmas Carol concert, EYFS and KS1 Nativities and ‘The Big Sing’ at Liverpool Cathedral.