Music
Music at William Shrewsbury Primary School
Music is an exciting and integral part of our curriculum at William Shrewsbury Primary School¸ which features within the school experience for our pupils. We firmly believe that through music, pupils are able to develop skills, attitudes and attributes that can support learning in other subject areas, and that are needed for life and work. These skills include listening skills; the ability to concentrate; creativity; intuition; aesthetic sensitivity; perseverance; self-confidence and sensitivity towards others. We aim to provide a wide range of musical opportunities for all through our music curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities. By engaging children in making and responding to music, the subject offers opportunities for them to develop their understanding and appreciation of a wide range of different kinds of music. These opportunities are aimed at developing and extending their own interests and increasing their ability to make judgements of musical quality.
In EYFS and Key Stage 1, the children are encouraged to listen carefully and respond physically to a wide range of different kinds of music. Within lessons there are opportunities for children to play musical instruments, sing a variety of songs, add accompaniments and create short compositions with increasing confidence, imagination and control.
Building upon earlier experience, the children in Key Stage 2 sing songs and play instruments with increasing confidence, skill, expression and awareness of their own contribution to a group performance. They improvise and develop their own musical compositions, with increasing personal involvement and independence. They explore their thoughts and feelings through responding physically, intellectually and emotionally to a variety of music from varying times and cultures. All children take part in regular singing assemblies where they learn a range of different songs.
Children that are interested in progressing their musicianship further can join the KS2 Choir (Y3-Y6), which rehearses weekly after school to prepare for performances throughout the year. This includes performing at the Young Voices Concert alongside schools from across the Midlands.
How music is taught at William Shrewsbury Primary School
Throughout the school music is taught using the Charanga scheme of work, which comprises of half termly units of work. The musical learning focus from each unit of work progresses to the expected musical learning outcomes for the end of year. In Year 3 the children focus on playing the glockenspiel. Recorders are taught in Year 4. In Year 5 the children begin to learn how to play the Djembe drums and this is continued into Year 6.
Within lessons children are taught a range of musical skills:
- listen & appraising
- musical activities (games, singing, playing);
- performing
- improvisation
- composition.
Outside of lessons, music continues to play an integral part of our learning. Children regularly listen to a range of music from different genres and a variety of musicians both past and present. Songs are also used in other subject areas to enhance learning.
- Within lessons, children will be encouraged to bring in and play their own instruments as well as being provided with a range of instruments to allow them to access the curriculum.
- Perform to different and varied audiences through assemblies, concerts and major productions throughout the school year.
Opportunities for performing
Key Stage 1:
- Each year group perform a Christmas concert to an invited audience of parents/guardians etc.
- All children perform in an end of year parent helper assembly.
Key stage 2:
- Each year group perform a Christmas concert to an invited audience of parents/guardians etc.
- All children have the potential to perform at other special occasions in school and further afield for example, Young Voices concert at Resorts World, Birmingham.
- Children can choose to perform in groups or solo in the KS2 end of year concert.
- All of Year 6 will perform to parents in the Y6 leavers concert.
Music tuition
We also offer Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Recorder, Trumpet, Piano, Violin, Drums, Guitar and Ukulele instrumental tuition for children in Key Stage 2. Please contact the school office for more details.