Intent

At Hannah More we offer a music curriculum that equips all children with the knowledge and skills they need to start their journey as a confident musician. Our curriculum meets the formal requirements of the National Curriculum and allows children to build their musical skills during their time at primary school. Oracy is embedded throughout the teaching of music and is recognised as a way to improve musicianship by scaffolding discussions and helping children to express their opinions.   

At Hannah More, we inspire children to develop as musicians by introducing them to past and current musical heroes from all backgrounds and cultures. We invite local musicians into school to introduce children to different instruments and to give them experiences of live music, which helps to build the children’s cultural capital.

Implementation

At Hannah More we deliver an engaging curriculum through a variety of different sessions. Music is taught through class lessons, key stage singing assemblies, instrument lessons, preparation of songs for class performances, carefully selected music played during assemblies and extra curriculum activities.

To successfully teach music lessons, teachers are provided with music planning documents that have been carefully written by the music leader who is an experienced musician. The lessons form part of a music enquiry which is taught during one term each year. During this term, year groups learn about the inter-related dimensions of music. Children revise what they learnt in previously year groups and build upon this.  Throughout the music enquiry, year groups work towards completing a composition which they perform to each other and evaluate at the end.  This enquiry culminates in the children producing and performing a play.  Part of the preparation for this is learning a collection of songs, which are sung in ensemble and taught with a focus on diction, pitch and dynamics.

Some Key Stage 2 classes have whole class instrument lessons provided by ‘Bristol Plays Music’ (Bristol Beacon). These sessions enhance learning from the enquiry lessons whilst giving children the experience of playing a tuned instrument. Children learn to work as an ensemble which develops both their listening and collaborative skills.

In addition to classroom-based lessons, children also attend singing assemblies. Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 attend separate singing assemblies which allow children to develop key singing skills which are specific for their key stages and learn songs which are appropriately challenging.  Children have the opportunity to perform the songs they have learnt to all teachers, parents and other key stages during Friday assembly.

Music is played during the beginning and end of assemblies. The Music played in assembly is carefully selected by either musical characteristics or inspirational musicians. The music is accompanied by a live recording of musicians playing the music. During Singing assemblies, the music leader talks about the composer, instruments played and any other key learning. Children are exposed to a wide variety of music of different genres and music from around the world.

Extra-curriculum activities are provided for children to develop and consolidate musical skills. Activities include Key Stage 1 and 2 choirs, recorder club, ukulele club and a music club for the Early Years which introduces children to instruments and how music is created.

During EYFS, pupils explore music through a combination of child initiated and adult directed activities including musical activities related to stories that they are currently reading. Children have the opportunities to explore the different dimensions of music using non-tuned percussive instruments. The musical activities also aims to develop children’s listening skills.

Mid-way through the year, children are taught musical games that they can then play during their independent learning time to continue exploring the different dimensions of music.

Towards the end of the year, children complete series activities which explores timbre, rhythm and beat through body percussion.

Throughout the year children develop their musicianship through learning rhymes and singing songs.

Impact

Music lessons at Hannah More give pupils the key skills needed to learn an instrument and to become musician. Children leave Hannah More Primary school with the ability to listen to music and understand how it has been composed and to compose and perform their own music. Children also leave Hannah More school with the ability to work in a team, to collaborate on a project and to reflect, evaluate and improve. Children also leave school with the understanding that music can be used as a way to promote their own mental health. Some children may find that music is the medium through which they can express themselves and use to support their own mindfulness.

We have been awarded the Music Mark. See Certificate