Music

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Music

at Didsbury CE Primary School


“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” ― Confucius

At Didsbury CE, music is a highly valued, integral part of our school life. We encourage a value of music because it is one of the most powerful and unique forms of communication that can change and impact the way that children feel, think and act. We believe that teaching music helps the body and the mind work together. In addition, we recognise the abilty of music to help children stay healthy mentally. Exposing children to music during early development helps them to learn the sounds and meanings of words. Dancing to music helps children build motor skills while allowing them to practice self expression and keep fit. We believe that every child should have the opportunity to  develop their musical potential and we aim to nuture musical development across the school.


How do we teach music?

We have an ambitious music curriculum at Didsbury CE which plays a vital role in preparing every child with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to engage with an appreciation of listening to, enjoying and performing music for life beyond the primary years. The curriculum content and design improves children knowledge of key musical vocabulary and terms. Children are given the opportunity to join the school choir in KS2 and to learn to play a tuned/non-tuned percussion instrument from the music trolley or have individual lessons with our visiting peripatetic teachers. Children in year 4 will have access to  whole class instrumental teaching for 1 and a half terms in the form of whole class recorder lessons taught by the class teacher. They will begin to be taught to read notation for the first time. Children are able to have individual music lessons in school with visiting specialist music teachers. 

Curriculum planning and sequencing 

Music is planned in line with the statements laid out in the national curriculum and with cross-curricular links where possible.

Children in EYFS are taught music through Expressive arts and Design. Children have a weekly taught music lesson and learn to sing a bank of songs/chants often linked to the half termly topic.  They use body percussion and untuned percussion instruments to explore pulse and rhythm leading to improvisation and composition. In addition, children listen to a wide variety of diverse music and appraise it using musical vocabulary.

Children in years 1 to 6 are taught music using Charanga, a spiral curriculum. designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools, Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. Charanga provides many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre. 

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