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Music

Intent

At Reed First School, we believe that music is a unique and powerful form of communication that can change the way pupils feel, think and act. Furthermore, we feel there is great value in combining creativity with emotion that enables personal expression, reflection and development – a life opportunity that can reap dividends in the future.

It is our intent that we make music an enjoyable learning experience. We encourage children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up the confidence of all children. Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to understand rhythm and follow a beat. Through singing songs, children learn about the structure and organisation of music. We teach them to listen and to appreciate different forms of music. Children develop descriptive language skills in music lessons when learning about how music can represent different feelings, emotions and narratives. We also teach technical vocabulary such as volume, pitch, beat and rhythm and encourage children to discuss music using these terms.

In addition to our music lessons taught by our class teachers, we offer individual or small group lessons for guitar, piano and singing.  These are provided by peripatetic specialist teachers to children from Reception age up.  Further details can be found by contacting the school office.

 

Music is taught both on a cross-curricular basis and as a discrete subject. Children have the opportunity to learn about the elements of music, composition, and musical appreciation.   As a school we enjoy listen to a wide genre of music together in assemblies.  The children look forward to finding out what we will be listening to with a link to our values.  They often go on to share the music enjoyed in school with their families at home.

Performing has a high priority. As part of the Wider Opportunities in Music scheme, children in Year 3 learn musical skills through playing the tenor horn. Children in Year 4 may continue on a fee-paying basis. We are also part of the National “Sing Up” scheme. Our older children participate each year in Youth Makes Music, with all the schools in the Royston area.

Our aims

· That children will develop an ability to listen to, and appreciate a wide variety of music, including that which has a specific purpose.

· That children will have opportunities to explore and express ideas and feelings about music, in a variety of ways, for example through dance.

· That children will explore a range of musical elements, for example: pitch, tempo and dynamics.

· That we will encourage active involvement in creating and developing musical ideas using voices and instruments – both tuned and un-tuned.

· That we will develop a sense of group identity and togetherness through composing, rehearsing and performing music with others, to an audience.

· That we will help the children develop self-discipline and creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and fulfilment.

 

“I just love music, and sharing the music I love with as many people as I can.”

Sheku Kanneh-Mason

“Like stars across the sky – we were born to shine.”

Andrea Bocelli