Music Curriculum

What is our vision for music?

At WHPS, we provide a broad and balanced curriculum across all subjects, which develops the individual child according to their age and ability. We want all of our children to leave WHPS as:

Fluent readers with a love of books and excellent comprehension.
Fluent mathematicians, with a confidence in problem-solving and reasoning.
Clear and engaging writers who can communicate their thoughts and feelings.
Happy, healthy, interested children with a range of experiences, memories and knowledge of a broad and deep-rooted curriculum.

The curriculum in music supports this by:

Exposing children to a broad range of musical styles and genres, allowing them to develop their own taste and express their own preferences
Providing opportunities to work with, learn from and watch professional musicians and performances, providing enriching experiences and gaining cultural capital
Providing children the space to create and perform, affording them different avenues in which to express themselves and to grow both as an individual and as a part of a team.

Intent

What are our aims in the teaching of music?

We believe that children learn best through a curriculum that has rigour, challenge, depth and breadth, and which connects all areas of learning. At WHPS, we intend to provide children with a high-quality education in music, which develops their appraising, historical knowledge, composing and performing skills. They will consistently be given opportunities to be critical and creative within music in order to develop their skills as young musicians.

This links to the National Curriculum for music, which aims to ensure children:

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 interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

How have you designed the curriculum for music to ensure that it covers the National Curriculum?

The curriculum for music has been carefully planned to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum aims and objectives.

At WHPS, we use the scheme Charanga. This is a comprehensive scheme which covers the 4 areas of learning in detail whilst exposing students to different genres and styles of music. In some year groups, we also make use of high quality teaching from other providers, such as Camden Music Service. By using a combination of carefully selected units from Charanga and these outside providers, we are able to ensure that each key stage covers performing (through singing and learning an instrument), composing, listening and appraising in detail at least once throughout each two stage.

Year 1 undertake a stand alone unit in the summer term. This was devised by the music lead to link with their science learning. It has been devised to link with the EYFS learning on the elements of music to consolidate what they know and to be able to respond expressively to these aspects of music.

Years 5 and 6 both have bespoke ‘Composer Soft Start’ units throughout the year. This has been devised by the music lead in order to ensure the children have the opportunity to listen to a range of well-known pieces and composers, as well as exposing them to types of world music, and giving them the opportunity to appraise what they hear.

Implementation

What is the content of music at WHPS?

Our curriculum is designed to:

Be clear about what knowledge children will learn, and in which order, throughout their time at our school.
Provide regular opportunities for children to review and apply prior learning to interrupt forgetting.
Provide enrichment opportunities that enhance and develop children’s learning.

The curriculum map provides further details on the objectives covered in music and the progression of knowledge and skills in each year group.

How is music taught at WHPS?

Music lessons are taught by class teachers, using planning developed alongside subject leads or by external providers from Camden Music Service, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment or the Royal Academy of Music. Children take part in regular lessons throughout each term.

At WHPS, we believe that high-quality teaching and learning in music includes:

Ensuring an element of each strand is present in each lesson, with a particular focus on one of the strands.
Opportunities to work independently (solo) or collaboratively (ensemble).
The opportunity and space required to express negative opinions and critiques.
The opportunity to learn different instruments.
The opportunity to experience music in a live setting.
The opportunity to learn about and experience cultures different from your own.
The opportunity to perform.

We also recognise that there are many elements of excellent practice that are consistent across all subjects, which are included in our WHPS Teaching Standards for teachers to refer to and implement.

How are planning and resources for music organised?

Every year group has a Year on a Page Overview, which provides an overview of units covered throughout the year, and a Foundation Subject Overview, which includes all of the objectives covered in each subject each term. Planning for all subjects is saved in the WHPS Curriculum folder for teachers to access.

We have access to a wide range of lesson resources and instruments to support the teaching of music across the school.

Detailed plans for all Charanga Units can be found on the website, which all teachers have access to.
Access to extra songs is through SingUp or YouTube at the class teacher’s discretion.
Scores for brass and recorder lessons are pinned on Google Classroom or accessed through the Camden Music Service website.
Glockenspiels and Djembes are kept in the music room to be used when needed.
ENO provides a pack of practical resources for their project, which can be used by class teachers.
Trumpets and trombones are loaned to the school by Camden Music Service and then loaned to the children for the duration of one academic year. The serial numbers and which child they are assigned to is kept track of by spreadsheet and is overseen by the music lead.
Recorders are purchased by the school and then loaned to the children for the duration of one academic year. A return sheet is monitored by the class teacher.

How do we ensure that all children have access to the music curriculum?

At WHPS, we aim to provide equal access to the curriculum for all children. We believe that all children can achieve and we value and promote each child’s achievements across every subject. We give our children every opportunity to achieve their best by taking account of our children’s range of life experiences when planning for their learning. We regularly review our curriculum and the resources we use to ensure that our teaching reflects equality and respects diversity. All teachers will adapt lessons and resources to provide support for individuals with SEND or other needs.

In music this support may include:

Instrument stands or straps for children with physical disabilities.
Access to a music writing software.
Alternative notation of music (e.g. Graphic score vs stave notation).
Ear defenders or ear plugs.
iPads with headphones for children who are hard of hearing.

How do we assess learning in music?

Assessment for learning is an important part of every lesson at WHPS in order to check children’s knowledge and understanding. Lessons are carefully planned to provide opportunities for teachers to assess children’s knowledge in a range of ways, which can then support them to adapt future lessons appropriately. Any written work is recorded in wider curriculum books and is clearly marked with the subject name and learning objective. However, we also recognise that a more active or practical approach may be relevant for some objectives, which is detailed in the unit plans developed by teachers and the subject lead.

In music, assessment opportunities include:

Written work, for example, writing down a rhythm or melody on a stave, creating a graphic score, recording a response to a piece of music.
Opportunities for oracy, for example, discussing a response to a piece of music or targeted questioning.
Performance, for example, copying a rhythm or melody, developing a rhythm or melody through improvisation and playing or singing a piece of music either individually or in a group.

What opportunities are there for enrichment in music?

Our aim at West Hampstead Primary School is to ensure that every child is able to take part in a range of inspiring and exciting opportunities during their time at school. Enrichment opportunities are carefully planned as part of the curriculum in order to:

Bring children's learning to life in a new or different context
Cover or revisit key knowledge and skills from across the National Curriculum
Providing an inspiring or aspirational experience for children
Develop children's confidence and self esteem in a new environment

In music, we provide the following enrichment opportunities throughout children’s time at school.

Year Group	Enrichment Opportunities
Nursery	Regular visits from The Royal Academy of Music Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Reception	A workshop and concert from Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Year 1	A workshop and concert from Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Christmas Sing-a-long performance
Year 2	A workshop and concert from Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Nativity performance
Year 3	The Place dance workshops and performance
Year 4	Whole Class Ensemble Teaching - Recorder Pantomime Performance
Year 5	ENO Finish This Project Royal Albert Hall Camden Music Festival performance
Year 6	Whole Class Ensemble Teaching - Brass Year 6 End of Year Show

Where appropriate and possible, year groups are also offered the opportunity to attend orchestral, choral and operatic performances taking place in London. Children are given the opportunity to perform every year at A Night at West Hampstead and to share the music of their culture at International Evening.

Children are also encouraged to join the after school clubs, including choir and band.

Impact

How do we monitor the impact of our teaching in music?

Leaders regularly monitor teaching and learning across the subject throughout the year. Monitoring takes place through:

Planning scrutiny to ensure that planned lessons match the learning objectives and outcomes provided in unit plans.
Book looks to ensure that outcomes reflect those provided in unit plans and check that children are making good progress within the subject.
Pupil voice to understand children’s perspectives on their learning in the subject and explore whether they have remembered the knowledge identified in the curriculum maps.
Learning walks to see teaching and learning in action across the school and ensure highquality teaching is taking place.
Teacher surveys or informal conversations to ensure that teachers are confident in their subject knowledge and identify any support needed.
Attending performances given by the children to gauge children’s enjoyment, understanding and level of participation.

Strengths and next steps identified during monitoring are recorded on our monitoring overview document and discussed with SLT.