Music

Harbour Primary and Nursery School

Intent
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music;
• are taught to sing, create and compose music;
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated.

At Harbour, our intention is that children gain a good understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres.

Our objective at Harbour is for children to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may play in any person’s life. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music in a variety of different contexts.

Implementation

Harbour Music curriculum ensures that students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. These components are embedded into classroom learning and activities, as well as the weekly singing assemblies, various concerts, performances and the learning of instruments.

We have adopted Sing up School Units of Work across the school, as well as a bespoke timetable of music lessons which are delivered to Key Stage 2 by a specialist Music teacher to enable children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concepts through different musical activities and learning experiences enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills. Musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear. The strands of musical learning, presented within the lesson plans and the on-screen resources, are part of a repetitive, cyclical learning structure. Over time, children can both develop new musical concepts, and revisit established skills. Mastery within the subject means both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new.

The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. The key knowledge and skills for each year are mapped to ensure progression between years. This ensures that children develop their musical skills, building their knowledge of music from one year to the next.

Each new unit of work within Sing Up School begins with a recap of the knowledge from previous years. The whole school scheme gives teachers knowledge, understanding and support when preparing and delivering music lessons. It explains the supporting ideas and methodology, and how each strand of musical learning within the Units of Work correspond with the national curriculum.

Each topic comprises the strands of musical learning that correspond with the national curriculum for Music- this helps children to retrieve what they have learnt in the earlier sequence of the programme of study, and ensures that new knowledge is taught in the context of previous learning to promote a shift in long term memory. Key vocabulary for the new topic is also introduced as part of this ‘unit introduction’. This provides definitions and accompanying visuals for each word to ensure accessibility to all. This approach also means that children are able to understand the new vocabulary when it is used in teaching and learning activities and apply it themselves with increasing independence.

In the classroom, children learn how to play an instrument from a range of percussion instruments, including glockenspiel. Our school also has links with external organisations, which offer specific expertise in Music as part of the core offer- this includes an ongoing link with the East Sussex Music Service. Children have the opportunity to understand the different principles of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation in Key Stage 2. As part of our ongoing liaison with the East Sussex Music service, all children in year 4 learn to play the ukulele. A highlight of the year for us is when children perform in a ukulele concert to parents and carers.

Children also learn how to compose, focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn, feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing and performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.

Impact

Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. The integral nature of music and the learner creates a rich palette from which a child may benefit from self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection.

The Music curriculum at Harbour also enables children to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children personally, as well as a diversity of ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. They have an understanding of how to further develop these skills.

Regular whole school assemblies at school and the school’s involvement in musical events ensure that children are joyful, confident performers. 

harbour music development plan 2024 2025 updated.pdf