Music

View our Music curriculum handbook here: Bayards Hill Music Curriculum Handbook

At Bayards Hill Primary School, we follow a primary music programme called ‘Charanga Musical School’ to support teaching and learning in music.

Intent

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. (The National Curriculum)

Music Teaching at Bayards Hill, implemented using Charanga, aims to engage, inspire and encourage children to increase self-confidence, explore their creativity, cultures and feel a positive sense of achievement. Children are provided with the opportunity to enjoy, listen and appraise music from around the world, take part in musical activities in and out of the classroom, and perform and share their new skills and achievements with the wider school and community. We aim to enhance awareness of children’s own abilities and strengths as a learner, ensuring that children see learning in musica as an ongoing process, not a one-off event. 

We provide a broad, balanced and accessible curriculum ensuring that children have the chance to progressively build their musical skills and understanding of the diversity and universality that music embodies.  

We believe that music holds an integral role in helping children feel part of a community, therefore we aim to provide experiences in conjunction with our Personal Development Programme to underpin our music curriculum and enhance childrens’ broader musicianship.

Implementation

Our Music Curriculum, delivered using Charanga, ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. Charanga is a scheme of work which offers a topic-based approach to support children’s learning in music. A steady progression plan has been built into Charanga, both within each year and from one year to the next, ensuring consistent musical development.

Children are taught in classroom lessons for at least 30 minutes per week, as well as taking part in weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performance opportunities and the learning of instruments. 

Key elements of music are taught within the classroom lessons so that children are able to use the language of music to dissect it, understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. Children are also taught how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing or analysing music.

In Early Years and Key Stage 1 children compose and perform using body percussion and vocal sounds, developing the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument. 

In Key Stage 2, children learn how to play an instrument - the Glockenspiel in year 3 and the Recorder in Year 4. In doing so, they understand the different principles of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. KS2 are also offered whole-class Ukulele tutoring.

What is Charanga Musical School?

Charanga Musical School is an online resource that brings together great music, lesson resources, up to date musical knowledge and educational technology. It supports all aspects of music at Bayards Hill Primary School and provides resources for whole school music activities. The learning within this programme is based on the key components of the primary music curriculum which are:

• Listening and Appraising
• Musical Activities - creating and exploring
• Singing and Performing

How does Charanga Musical School develop my child’s skills in music?

The objectives from the National Curriculum are taught through half termly units of work and built upon each year. This enables children to gain in depth knowledge and a passion for music. Key units in each year teach the skills of learning to play an instrument and reading music. This then progresses to provide opportunities for performing and composing on the focus instrument as the children refine their skills. Every child at Bayards Hill Primary School learns to play the glockenspiel which begins in Year 1.

What is a typical music lesson like?

Every music lesson introduces the children to a new piece of music from a range of historical periods including the present day. The children are encouraged to identify musical elements like the pulse, rhythm and timbre within the music and identify the instruments that are being played. Background information about the composer and historical period are also shared with the children.

How is your child assessed?

During each unit, your child will participate in a range of assessment activities within lessons and their class teacher will measure their skills progression using the year group assessment statements

If you would like to find out more about Charanga Musical School please visit www.charanga.com

Knowledge Organisers