Music Policy
A Curriculum Policy for Music
Introduction
Music is a foundation subject in the National Curriculum.
At Magor Church in Wales Primary School, music plays an important part in the spiritual and cultural development of all pupils and the life of the school. An opportunity to listen to music from different cultures, to reflect and meditate on music gives pupils the opportunity to develop spiritually. Whilst listening to music from different cultures helps pupils to appreciate different traditions. The opportunities to make music, sing, join the orchestra or just by using percussion instruments allows pupils to be creative, to develop skills of listening to each other and to cooperate as well as developing the discipline of following the direction of a conductor. Music is central to the worship at the main feast and festivals.
This policy outlines the purpose, nature and management of music taught in our school.
The school policy for music reflects the consensus of opinion of the whole teaching staff.
The implementation of this policy is the responsibility of all teaching staff.
The Nature of Music
Music is a practical, creative subject, which can benefit all children by developing their imagination, their ability to listen attentively and the ability to express personal thoughts and feelings.
Our main aim is that music is accessible for all children to enjoy.
Entitlement
All children will be taught the skills and knowledge of music as outlined in the programme of study in the National Curriculum for music.
There are three attainment targets:
AT1 - Performing
AT2 - Composing
AT3 - Appraising
The pupil?s entitlement is for breadth of experience across the three strands.
These three strands constitute the basic areas of all musical activities.
At our school all children will have the opportunity to:
- Sing in class and assemblies
- Sing in choir and to perform at public occasions
- Learn the recorder
- Learn an orchestral instrument, play in the school orchestra and perform at concerts and services in the Church
- Take part in school assemblies
- Take part in externally organised musical activities when appropriate
Specialist Teachers
The specialist peripatetic teachers are responsible for teaching individual/group orchestral instruments such as:
- Woodwind - flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone
- String - violin, cello, guitar
- Brass - trumpet, cornet, trombone
The peripatetic teachers are aided by specialist schoolteachers who willingly teach children in school clubs in order to provide opportunity for such children to participate in school assemblies and services.
The Role of the Curriculum Leader
The curriculum leader is available to support the rest of the staff by advising, assisting and suggesting ideas suitable for use with children of various ages throughout the school. It is the responsibility of the curriculum leader to ensure that planning is appropriate to the ability of the children at which it is aimed and shows continuity and progression. The curriculum leader facilitates extra-curricular activities and liases with peripatetic teachers thus utilising their skills as an extra resource for the school.
Resources
All musical instruments are kept in clearly labelled boxes and kept in the library. They are readily accessible to all staff.
There are two pianos. They are situated in the school hall and the library.
The school's main music scheme is Music Express. The Teacher's Resource Books are held in each year group along with the CD recordings.
Scheme
In order to achieve and continue achieving the attainment targets in music, the school has adopted the Music Express scheme with Early Years using traditional stories found in "Three Singing Pigs" and "Three Rapping Rats" as the stimulus. This has proven to be a valuable resource to provide ideas and stimuli for classroom music making it easier especially for the non-specialist teacher.
Special Needs
Musical activities are planned so that all children are encouraged to take full active participation and enjoyment irrespective of ability.
The emphasis for children with learning difficulties is on fun and participation with every effort being made to ensure that material for both performing and listening is at an appropriate interest level, whilst music for the brighter child will be far more demanding.
The talented children in the class will be encouraged to support the teacher and help lead their peers. If these children are also in receipt of private music tuition, then they will be encouraged to play these instruments during compositions.
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