Music | Edward Peake

Music Curriculum at Edward Peake

Live Love Learn

“Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” Psalm 150:1-6

Subject Leader- Mrs S Thorn

Intent:

The music curriculum at Edward Peake has been specifically designed for our pupils to ensure that they not only become confident and enquiring musicians but also are enthralled by the beauty of music and its impact on our cultures as well as those around the world. We benefit from access to a wide range of musical instruments, multiple spaces for performance and practice as well as a music technology suite which ensures that all pupils are able to access our curriculum, no matter their starting point. Our curriculum gives opportunities for our pupils to 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. They 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. They also develop understanding as they explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations

Our main aims are to:

Live: Ensure pupils develop skills and personal qualities for lifelong learning so that they can enjoy all aspects of listening to and making music. To develop motor skills through playing to help in all aspects of life.
Love: Broaden pupils’ horizons by giving them opportunities to explore the wider world. To develop pupil’s appreciation of different genres of music and music from European and other world traditions.
Learn: To encourage a love of learning through music, in both practical and written forms.

There are three key concepts threaded throughout the music curriculum at Edward Peake. These are: enjoyment of music, developing performance skills and articulating responses to music. Through these pupils are able to broaden and deepen their knowledge of a wide variety of musical genres from across the world. Our music curriculum is designed for all pupils, regardless of their starting point. It encourages all pupils to challenge themselves and through their appreciation of music, to explore aspects of social, moral, spiritual and cultural understanding and British values.

Implementation:

Pupils are encouraged to broaden and deepen knowledge whilst showing a positive attitude to learning. Pupils follow a ‘spiral’ curriculum developing their skills, historical knowledge and ability to read and write music in different forms, using music-specific vocabulary to describe and analyse the music they make and listen to.

Pupils in KS2 have one hour of music every week taught by a subject specialist. Pupils in KS3 have two hours of music a week on a rotation, taught by a subject specialist. These lessons are taught in smaller groups to allow pupils more support from their teacher to help develop their knowledge and skills.

We have access to a music room with a wide variety of musical instruments as well as a music technology suite which allows pupils to use programmes such as Mixcraft and Sibelius. There are also a number of practice rooms which pupils have access to with drum kit, guitars and piano available. Peripatetic teachers provide one to one or small group tuition for those pupils who wish to develop their skills. Priority for these lessons are given to disadvantaged pupils for whom the school subsidises lessons.

Live: Ensure pupils develop skills and personal qualities for lifelong learning so that they can enjoy all aspects of listening to and making music. To develop motor skills through playing to help in all aspects of life.

Love: Broaden pupils’ horizons by giving them opportunities to explore the wider world. To develop pupil’s appreciation of different genres of music and music from European and other world traditions.

Learn: To encourage a love of learning through music, in both practical and written forms.

In the classroom

Sequenced learning and a spiral curriculum with prior learning revisited and built upon.

Opportunities for working in different groupings to improve personal skills alongside musical skills.

Consistent expectations for pupils’ attitude to learning.

Range of topics studied to include music from other time periods, countries and cultures. Links made to English, Art and Humanities in particular to give a ‘joined up’ view.
Careers display to demonstrate how Music is important in the wider world and in each pupil’s future.

Quality first teaching

Challenging activities

Broad and balanced offering

Variety of tasks, both written and practical allowing all learners to participate.

Out of the classroom

Close links with feeder lower schools and upper schools to encourage smooth transitions. Bridging project with Year 8 into Year 9 at Stratton.

Opportunities to be involved in musical activities in school and within the local community.

Pupils encouraged to select their own musical choices when appropriate. Visiting peripatetic teachers deliver instrumental lessons. Pupils encouraged to join musical groups in and outside school.

Pupils hear live music in school (worship, productions and concerts) and where possible on other occasions (trips/visitors coming into school) e.g. Lifepath, drumming workshop.

Knowledge organisers to encourage learning outside the classroom. Prior and personal knowledge and ideas welcomed. Those who play an instrument are encouraged to use it in their composition work.

Access to online learning.

Intervention strategies and support by subject leader.

Impact:

Pupils develop as musicians, understanding more about their world as they progress and becoming independent learners who can work in a variety of contexts.

Learn: To encourage a love of learning through music, in both practical and written forms.

Pupils are able to build on prior knowledge to develop further in subsequent topics.

Pupils show excellent attitudes to learning.

Pupils are confident in what they have learnt and how to apply the knowledge and skills they have gained.

Pupils regularly work in different groupings, pairs and have individual tasks.

Pupils are prepared for the wider world.

Pupils extend their cultural capital by studying a range of genres and instrumental styles.

Pupils make use of music for their own wellbeing.

Pupils develop their skills of discussion, analysis and interpretation to be used in other subject areas and in a range of situations.

Pupils are supported at their own level so they can achieve. Vocabulary to analyse and evaluate can be used in other subject areas at GCSE.

Motor skills gained through practical work can be adapted to other areas (PE, Art, Design).