Music
Music is taught by a specialist teacher in order to develop children’s understanding and enjoyment of music through a range of practical activities. In their lessons, which occur once a week, children will learn to:
- perform, listen to, review, and evaluate their own and others’ music across a range of historical contexts
- sing and use their voices and a variety of instruments to create and compose their own music
- understand how music is created through the musical elements of pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure
Children are offered a number of performance opportunities throughout the year in the form of concerts, which parents are invited to attend. The school also offers a choir for children to perform with, as well as offering a range of instrumental classes, which parents can pay for so that their child will have small group tuition. These sessions are provided by external tutors from Ealing Music Service, more information can be found by contacting the office.
Intent
From Reception through to Year 6, music lessons at West Acton are fun and inspiring; engaging children with active music-making through songs, rhymes, movement and opportunities to play a range of tuned and un-tuned instruments. We aim to develop musicianship skills through exposure to a range of musical styles from around the world, to give pupils a deep understanding and appreciation of music. Children are encouraged to be reflective and expressive and are challenged to become confident performers and creators, through developing an understanding of the musical elements (pitch, pulse, rhythm) and the skills to understand basic musical notation.
Through music lessons at West Acton, children develop their singing voices, use body percussion and develop the skills to play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of individual, group and whole class activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose and perform regularly.
Children develop the knowledge and skills to describe culturally diverse musical styles, by being exposed to a global range of music, from folk music, to music of varying genres from great composers.
Children are also encouraged to pursue wider opportunities to learn from peripatetic tutors provided by Ealing Music Service. Children are given opportunities to play in the wider community, play with other schools in the local area in joint concerts and to see performances that are offered in the city of London.
Children at West Acton develop the tools to listen critically to music with attention to detail and to move onto Key Stage 3 with a passion to learn and to share their love of music.
Implementation
To ensure our music provision at West Acton is high standard, our music curriculum lessons are delivered by music specialists from Sing Education. All children receive a music lesson once a week throughout the year.
The music curriculum is made up of half-termly units, with step-by-step progression, always building on prior knowledge and skills, giving children the opportunity to consolidate, deepen and progress their rich musical skill set.
Reception
Children in Reception classes are introduced to music lessons through singing games, songs, rhymes and listening activities. Using their bodies, props and untuned percussion, children learn to move and play in time to music. Children are also introduced to solo and small-group singing through games and develop the ability to recognise and recall songs and to match pitch. Children sing traditional songs from around the world and explore listening and movement activities using high-quality recordings and live playing.
KS1
Whole class music lessons in KS1 provide children with opportunities to learn about pitch, pulse and rhythm through songs, chants and musical games. Through exposure to a diverse range of music from around the world, pupils are encouraged to develop their singing voices and enjoy exploring the glockenspiel and other percussion instruments.
Children explore songs, pieces and sounds from a range of genres and locations, including music from the Caribbean, Japanese music, Hawaiian folk music, traditional English, Irish and American folk songs and contemporary music. Children engage with these genres through singing, playing or active listening to quality recordings and are encouraged to draw on their own wide cultural heritage.
Music lessons in KS1 lay the foundations for a solid musical understanding, preparing children to develop their passion for music further in KS2.
Children have the opportunity to perform and record a piece of repertoire they have studied at the end of each half term, with the chance to describe and discuss what they have been learning and exploring in music lessons.
KS2
In KS2 music lessons, children develop their active listening skills, appreciation of music and understanding of music theory, through exploring classical music, pop music, musical theatre and music from around the world. Children explore songs, pieces and sounds from a range of genres and locations, including music from Ghana and Kenya, music from the Caribbean, Japanese music, traditional English, Irish and American folk songs, classical orchestral music, and popular music through the ages. Children engage with these genres through singing, playing or active listening to quality recordings and are encouraged to draw on their own wide cultural heritage.
With singing and making-music together at the core, music lessons provide exciting opportunities to perform, compose and reflect, both as individuals and as part of an ensemble. The key musical elements of pitch, pulse and rhythm are reinforced and built upon throughout KS2, with children developing an ability to read and play basic rhythm notation and to have strong musicianship skills.
Children have the opportunity to perform and record a piece of repertoire they have studied at the end of each half term, with the chance to describe and discuss what they have been learning and exploring in music lessons.
Impact
Music lessons are monitored by subject and senior leaders from West Acton Primary and curriculum leads from Sing Education, using a variety of strategies such as lesson observations, staff discussion and pupil interview. Feedback is used to inform improvements in the implementation of music.
Recordings of the children are kept to monitor the progression of skills across the children’s academic career, giving pupils the chance to display their musicianship skills and understanding of the key musical elements through demonstration and discussion. Children are able to talk about what music means to them, culturally and individually. They understand with increasing confidence, the cultural impact of music on the world around them and the role that their own culture has contributed to this.
Cultural Capital
Through a range carefully tailored lessons from Sing Education, children are exposed to a global range of music, from folk music, to music of varying genres from great composers. Children engage with these genres through singing, playing or active listening to quality recordings. Whenever possible they are encouraged to draw on their own wide cultural heritage.
Through themed Music assemblies children are given the opportunity to reflect on a wide variety of musical performances and instruments outside of the general experience, drawing on the contribution to music made by all cultures.
Children are given the opportunity to join musical events outside of school and experience performances from musicians. (currently these activities are suspended due to covid restrictions)
Home learning
Children are given weekly music tasks set by skilled, qualified musicians from Sing Education. High quality re-recorded video lessons are set, specific for each year group, using the Sing Education web online learning portal.
An example of a lesson is here:
Each week, the lesson is introduced and the previous week’s learning recapped by Ms Friend, our in-house qualified music specialist from Sing Education.
Children are encouraged to send in examples of their participation.
