Music

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. At Willowpark we pride ourselves in delivering high quality music education which engages and inspires pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians. This also increases their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.

We intend for our pupils to enjoy a dynamic and wide ranging music curriculum, to increase their cultural capital.

In line with the curriculum for music and guidance from Ofsted, the music schemes of work provide an integrated, practical, exploratory and child-led approach to musical learning. Pupils have the opportunity to perform using a variety of musical instruments and are also encouraged to use their voice as instruments.

In following the national curriculum for music we aim to ensure that all pupils:

Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.
Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others', have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence.
Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions; pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

As pupils progress through the music schemes of work they will develop a critical engagement with music. This allows them to perform, compose and to listen with discrimination to a wide and varied range of musical styles.

Singing is a valued musical performing attribute in school. We sing in whole-school assemblies, in our music classes and in extra-curricular activities. Our school choir rehearse on a weekly basis and to strengthen links within the community, perform throughout the year at a variety of local venues.

Whole school performances are hugely popular and involve a high number of pupils from reception, through to year six. The Christmas show involves all pupils performing and is very well attended by parents, families and carers. The school musical takes place at the end of the academic year and features actors from year 5 and 6 along with a massed chorus from pupils in Years 1-6.

Music

Specialist Music Curriculum projects

At Willowpark, we aim to provide all our students with opportunities to perform, celebrate and experience music of all kinds. Through our specialist music projects, pupils experience the chance to develop their listening skills and musical understanding, thinking critically and evaluating how a piece of music is constructed and the impact this has on the listener. By having opportunities to listen to a wide range of music from a variety of cultures, this helps to build on the cultural awareness and development of our students.

The creative process of our projects gives students the opportunity to develop their craft of composing melodies and fashioning these into short performance pieces. Pupils practise recalling melodic shapes, harmonic sequences, rhythmic patterns and sections within their compositions. This also provides valuable opportunities for peer feedback and evaluation.

Through our performance opportunities, such as assemblies and shows, pupils experience the joy of singing, learning singing techniques, being able to sing in harmony and to be able to deliver musically. Pupils think about warm ups, breathing and posture, dynamics, phrasing and context within their singing performances.

Performances throughout the academy allow students to develop an idea of stagecraft, including engagement with an audience and respect for fellow performers. Peer feedback and opportunities for collaboration - such as more than one class performing for impact - are utilised for all pupils throughout the year.

music specialism topics 2022 127807 .pdf

In Year 3, pupils have been listening to and composing music in the style of the Ancient Egyptians. They have listened with attention and began to recall sounds commenting on the effectiveness of their own and others' compositions and identifying and making improvements.

/i/video/Y3_egyptians_1.mp4

/i/video/Y3_egyptians.mov

In Year 4, pupils were working on composition of a piece linked with the Olympics. They chose the Marathon race and worked in groups to compose different sections of the race - such as at the start line, during the middle of the race and at the end as the competitors approach the finish line. Pupils performed with increasing notes and begin to show musical expression by changing dynamics throughout the race.

/i/video/Y4_Ancient_Greece.mp4

/i/video/Y4_AG.mp4

In Year 6, pupils used musical notation, tuned and untuned percussion instruments to compose and perform their on interpretation of a factory machine during the Industrial Revolution. The compositions have form and structure and have a beginning, middle and end.

/i/video/Y6_Industrial_machine.mov