Music 

Intent: 

The National Curriculum for music specifies that children should be taught to: 

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music. 
• Taught to sing, create and compose music. 

• Understand and explore how music is created, produces and communicated. 

Through outstanding teaching and a wealth of opportunities, pupils at Meadowside Academy understand what music is and learn to listen, sing, play, evaluate and critique. As they progress through school, children are exposed to an array of music from various historical periods, styles, cultures and genres.  

Experiencing music in different contexts, such as live, recorded as well as making music using technology, children are given the chance to foster a lifelong passion for music, as well as to develop their musical expertise. 

Implementation: 

Embedded through the structured music programme. ‘Charanga’, each class teaches children to sing, listen, perform and evaluate music. This is furthered through regular singing in assemblies, performances, extra-curricular clubs and musical call-backs in some year groups. High quality musical vocabulary is used consistently throughout school so that children recognise it and are able to implement it in their own oracy.  

Children use a rich variety of instruments and have the opportunity through cross-curricular ‘Big Idea’ topics to compose their own music, as well as listen to that of others’.  With a focus on breaking music down into parts, instruments and genres, as well as critiquing it, children develop a deep understanding and respect for sound; allowing them to have their own educated opinions on different types of music. 

Impact: 

As a result of the rich musical education that Meadowside pupils receive, they are able to assess their own strengths and ‘areas’ to improve upon’ regularly. Children develop fundamental competencies through their musical education such as confidence, performance, critiquing, reflection, team work and the supporting of others.  

Furthermore, children learn to appreciate different cultures and ways of life through the various genres and time periods studied. Through their school career, they become increasingly competent performers and observers and this offers all children the opportunity to further a passion for music in other areas of their lives. 

Please click here to access our long term plan curriculum plans linked to our big ideas

The Subject guide below shows the Long Term Plan for Music and the progression of skills in the Rainbow Continuum.