Music
At Danesfield School, our intent is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is, through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. At Danesfield, our curriculum is designed to develop a curiosity for music, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music across different cultures and environments. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Through the National Curriculum and the Model Music Curriculum (2021), our music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in classroom activities and children are exposed to a wide range of musical genres to listen to throughout the day, using the recommendations of the Model Music Curriculum, as well as a wide range of music that incorporates the topics that the children are learning in other subjects. Weekly singing assemblies, concerts, performances, and the learning of instruments, all feed into the rich and broad musical diet that the children are exposed to. We are in the unique position that all children from years R-6 have weekly African drumming sessions, supporting their performance skills, alongside their class lessons. Our Skills Progression Grids demonstrate which objectives are taught throughout the year groups and demonstrate how children develop their musical skills as they move through the key stages. The elements of music are taught and children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom, children learn how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds helps develop the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument. Soundtrap, an online digital music programme, is used to develop children’s composition skills and develop their knowledge of digital music production, helping to develop their 21st Century knowledge of music and the musical industry.
Children have access to a varied and engaging programme, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas to improve upon. The integral nature of music and the learner creates an enormously rich palette from which a child may access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music also develops an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to pupils individually, as well as ethnicities across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in a plethera of ways - either as listener, creator or performer. By the end of Year 6, they can demonstrate how to dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing, feel a pulse and have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them. Children develop a love of music and an understanding of how technology is weaved into the music curriculum, from a very early age.
