Music
What is Music?
As a language that is considered to be universal, music presents many beneficial opportunities for children to build and sustain their creativity. A high – quality music education aims to be one of an inspiring nature that presents opportunities for children to develop a passion for music and begin to build on their talents as musicians. At Leagrave Primary School where our motto is, ‘Striving for Excellence, Learning for Life, we aim to do this by building on children’s musical creativity from an early age, instilling within them a real sense of achievement and by doing so, increasing their self – confidence.
If you cannot teach me to fly - teach me to sing
Early Years
The music curriculum within Early Years is known as; Expressive Arts and Design, and is organised on a topic basis. Children are provided with ample opportunities to sing, dance and make music. They are provided with opportunities to improvise music and personalise it.
Key Stage One
This provides opportunities for children to build on the core and foundational skills and knowledge they have learnt during Nursery and Reception years.
Key Stage One focuses on providing expressive opportunities for children as they are taught how to use their voices in a creative manner by engaging in singing songs. They also partake in opportunities which allows for them to play tuned instruments and familiarise themselves with rhythmic patterns, developing their skills as becoming composers.
Key Stage Two
Key Stage Two builds on the opportunities provided within Key Stage One. Children are taught further how to use their voices and take part in playing tuned instruments. Within Year 3 children play the glockenspiel building further on the core skills learnt in Year 2. Children in Year 4 have the opportunitiy to learn how to play the recorder and once they have consolidated reading notation, articulation and the note fingerings, they progress and onto composition. Children in Year 5 have the opportunity to play the ukulele, learning how to use a greater variety of chords including major, minor and dominant 7th chords. This is taught by a specialist teacher who comes in from the Luton Music Service. Children in Year 6 have the opportunity to further develop the skills they have learnt whilst playing the ukulele in Year 5 but are now taught to play the ukulele either as a solo performance or as part of a group, following a conductor. In addition to this they are largely exposed to the different genres and musical traditions from all over the world.