Carlton Colville Primary School

At Carlton Colville we believe that music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity.  It is a vehicle for personal expression and it can play an important part in the personal development of people.  Music reflects the culture and society we live in and so the teaching and learning of music enables children to better understand the world they live in.  

We provide many opportunities for all children to create, play, perform and enjoy music, to develop their skills & confidence, to appreciate a wide variety of musical forms and to begin to make judgements about the quality of music.

To be a musician at Carlton Colville we focus on the following music learning intentions:

• A passion for a wide range of musical activities;
• A good awareness and appreciation of different musical traditions and genres;
• Perform; through singing and using their voices and by having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in Key Stage 2, which will allow them to progress through levels of musical excellence;
• Compose; by creating music on their own and with others by using technology and instruments appropriately;
• Transcribe; through knowing and understanding how music is created, produced, communicated and then organised into musical structures, including pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture and structure;
• Describe music; by listening to, reviewing and evaluating music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.

Our Music curriculum is led and overseen by our Expressive Arts Team. A regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and staff support takes place along with the celebration and sharing of good practice. There is an ongoing commitment to evolve and improve the quality and impact of Music on offer to all the children. 

Music lessons are taught by class teachers. This is mainly carried out during whole class teaching activities. Teachers draw attention to good examples as modelled by themselves, other musicians or children so all children have a clear understanding of what to achieve and how.  As per the National Curriculum for Music, we aim to ensure all children: 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. The beginning of each music unit and music lesson is an opportunity for each child across KS1 and KS2 to reflect on their previous learning including key vocabulary concepts. 

Children are given an opportunity to experiment making sounds with instruments so they are able to develop their curiosity and deepen their understanding as the main section of the music lesson begins. New skills are modelled and relevant vocabulary is referred to then throughout the session.

Children are continually assessed focusing on the breadth of their learning, and more importantly, on the depth of their learning. Teachers will continually assess the acquisition of skills and knowledge throughout each session and will reinforce, support or challenge pupils accordingly to deepen their understanding and master techniques. Pupils are encouraged to peer and self-assess, e.g. considering form or effectiveness and how these can be modified and improved. As the children move through each year group, class teachers are assessing against the key indicators specifically if the children are working at a basic level, advance level or deep level of learning. 

We have a range of musical instruments available to the children within the school. The music cupboard contains recorders, guitars, glockenspiels, a range of percussion instruments, and much more! The instruments available fit in with the music programme, ‘Charanga’, which is used by all class teachers across the school, from Reception to Year 6. If bespoke instruments are required, for example Year 5 Penny Whistles, these are sourced by the school and offered to parents at a small charge. Children are taught how to look after these resources to develop a better understanding of the resource itself, as well as improving the longevity of it.

There are a wide range of extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities across the school. These include:

• Weekly Rocksteady sessions, with an external music tutor, are offered to all our KS2 children. Children are able to choose to play a ranges of instruments including; electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and drums. The children also perform in a live music performance every term;
• Guitar sessions with an external tutor;
• Whole school music days;
• KS2 choir, including their opportunities to perform within the local community;
• KS1 choir;
• KS1 nativity performances;
• Year 5 and Year 6 productions,
• KS2 Christmas carol concert;
• Singing assemblies,

• Children, across their milestone, develop their music skills in performing, singing, transcribing and composing;
• The opportunity to reflect on the music culture within our school, listening to other year groups and the choir perform during the course of an academic year;
• Exposure to a wide range of music from various time periods and across the globe, further enhancing their culture capital;
• An opportunity to express themselves musically using a range of instruments and a range of genres;
• An improved vocabulary, allowing them the ability to verbally express their thoughts and ideas.

Our bespoke assessment systems enables teachers to make informed judgements about the depth learning and the progress each pupil has made over time. Critically this then enables teachers to identify and therefore address any gaps in pupil’s musical knowledge.

Through skilled questioning, teachers pick up on any misconceptions which they rectify through live feedback during the lessons and through marking of pupils' work.

  Jamie – ‘Our music warm-ups are fun and they help me improve my rhythm skills’.

Phoebe – ‘I want to be a good singer and I know I have to practise a lot’.

Amy – ‘Teamwork is really important when playing in a music group’.

Mia – ‘Our school choir are really good and I’m proud of them’.