Music

Statement of Intent for Music at Theydon Bois Primary School

At Theydon Bois Primary School, we are committed to providing a high quality, ambitious music curriculum that inspires and engages all learners., helping them to develop a lifelong love of music. We believe that music has the power to enrich lives, build cultural capital, foster creativity, develop confidence and support emotional wellbeing. We aim for pupils to understand, create, perform and listen to a wide range of music from different cultures, time periods and styles.

Curriculum Intent:

Our music curriculum is underpinned by the National Curriculum and reflects current Ofsted guidance. We strive to ensure that our curriculum:

Develops musical knowledge and skills: Children will gain a secure understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music (pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture and structure). They will develop technical skills in singing, playing instruments, composing and notating music.
Builds substantive knowledge: Pupils will acquire a rich and detailed knowledge of music from different times, places and traditions. They will explore a wide range of genres and composers, recognising significant worlds. Knowledge organisers for each topic will set out the key concepts, vocabulary and big ideas to support secure recall and connections.
Develops conceptual understanding: We will focus on key music concepts (big ideas) such as improvising, composing, listening, appraising and performing. These concepts will be revisited and deepened throughout the curriculum, enabling children to make connections.
Fosters a sense of belonging and identity: We aim to teach music in a way that is inclusive and celebrates the diversity of musician traditions and cultures. Through singing and playing instruments, children will develop confidence, teamwork and creativity.
Enables children to learn a musical instrument: All children will be taught to play the chime bars and recorders (KS1) and glockenspiels and recorders (KS2).

Implementation:

Our music is implemented through a combination of lessons, extra-curricular clubs, assemblies, live performances and concerts. Key strategies include:

Practical music making: Children will have regular opportunities to take part in singing, playing instruments, composing and improvising. This hands-on approach ensures that pupils learn music by ‘doing’, developing both technical and creative expression.

Listening and appraisal: Pupils will listen to a wide range of musical genres, styles and traditions. They will be encouraged to respond and discuss using subject specific vocabulary.
Performance opportunities: Regular opportunities to perform, both informally in class and more formally in concerts, assemblies or community events.
Composition and creativity: Children will create their own music, exploring how sounds can be combined, adapted and notated. This includes improvisation, group composition and the use of music technology where appropriate.
Cross Curricular links: Music will be connected to other curriculum areas where meaningful such as history, English, PE and art, enriching children’s wider learning experience.
Visits and enrichment: Educational visits, workshops with musicians and partnerships with Essex Music Hub will provide pupils with valuable opportunities to experience live music and work with professional practitioners.

Knowledge Organisers:

Our music curriculum is supported by Knowledge Organisers, which outline the key skills, vocabulary, and concepts for each unit of learning. These organisers help pupils and staff track progress and ensure that learning is consistent and progressive throughout the school year.

Assessment:

We assess children’s learning in music through:

Teacher Observations: Regular observations of children’s participation, effort, and musical development during singing, instrumental work, listening and composing activities.
Performance Participation: Monitoring pupils’ involvement and progress in class, group and whole school performances including assemblies, concerts and productions.
Knowledge Quizzes: These are used to assess pupils’ understanding of key musical concepts such as rhythm, pitch, dynamics, notation and musical vocabulary.
Pupil Voice: A random selection of pupils are chosen to participate in a group question and answer session to understand their knowledge, enjoyment and understanding of music as both a subject, and as a creative art.

Impact:

We expect our music curriculum to have a significant impact on children's learning and development. We aim to:

Foster a Love of Music: We want children to enjoy music and develop a lifelong appreciation for it, whether as active participants, creators or listeners.
Develop Musical Competence and Confidence: We aim for pupils to become confident in singing, playing instruments, composing and performing, enabling them to express themselves musically, with increasing confidence.
Promote Cultural Awareness and Appreciation: By experiencing a wide range of musical genres, composers and traditions, pupils will gain an understanding of music’s role in different cultures, building cultural capital.
Encourage Creativity and self-expression: We want children to recognise music as a form of communication and expression, developing their ability to create and share their own musical ideas.
Prepare for Future Learning: By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will have the knowledge, skills and confidence to continue their musical journey into secondary education and beyond, whether through performance, composition or continued enjoyment of music.

This Statement of Intent will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of our pupils and reflects best practice in the provision of music.