Music at Park

A good music education helps children grow in confidence, creativity and self-expression. Through music, children learn to work hard, practise, persevere and feel proud of their achievements. These experiences can stay with them for life.

Our aim is to help children enjoy music and understand the wide variety of music that exists in the world today. We want all children to have the chance to listen to music, talk about it, perform it, and create their own. Singing, composing and playing instruments are all important parts of our music lessons. We also help children understand why music matters in everyday life and in different communities, both locally and around the world.

How Music Is Taught

Our music curriculum is carefully planned so that children gradually build their skills and understanding. They learn music by:

• Performing (singing and playing instruments)

• Composing and creating their own music

• Listening carefully to different types of music

• Learning about music from different times and cultures

Children are introduced to key musical ideas such as rhythm, beat, pitch (how high or low a sound is), speed, volume, tone and structure. These ideas are revisited regularly so children can remember them and use them confidently as they progress through school.

Our Music Programme

We use the Charanga Music Scheme, which provides fun, engaging lessons that help children:

• Develop their listening skills

• Remember and recognise sounds

• Make musical choices and judgements

• Express themselves through movement, discussion and performance

• Create their own musical ideas

Lessons are built around a central song or piece of music and include games, singing, playing instruments, listening activities and creative tasks. By learning the same musical ideas in different ways, children gain a deeper and more secure understanding.

Importantly, children don’t just learn about music – they become musicians who can confidently share and perform what they have learned.

Music as Children Grow

In Key Stage 2, children build on what they learned in earlier years. They become more confident singers and instrumentalists and learn to:

• Perform on their own and with others

• Make up and compose music for different purposes

• Listen carefully and remember music they have heard

• Use simple musical notation

• Enjoy and understand music from different cultures, traditions and famous composers

Music lessons often link with other subjects, such as History and PSHE. For example, children learn songs connected to the Civil Rights Movement or explore music linked to Ancient Egypt.

Music Beyond the Classroom

Music is an important part of our school community. Children have regular opportunities to perform, both in school and in the local community. This includes events such as our annual Seasonal Concert at the Castle Theatre, alongside other local schools.

Preparing for the Future

By the time children move on to secondary school, they will have strong listening, performing and composing skills. They will understand key musical ideas and be able to talk about music using appropriate language. Most importantly, we hope they leave us with a lasting enjoyment of music and the confidence to continue taking part in musical activities in the future.

We follow the fantastic, interactive Charanga scheme of work where the children are taught the vital parts of music including melodies, pitch, harmony, music appreciation, music history and much more!

Using Charanga, children can listen and appraise popular and classical music, learn how to play and improvise and most importantly, perform! This is done through exciting units with names such as such as 'Mamma Mia', 'I wanna play in a band and 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air!'

The children also have opportunities in the classroom music lessons to learn to play the recorder, glockenspiels and percussion instruments.

As well as our usual classroom based music lessons in which our children can enjoy our vast range of instruments, we have a weekly whole school 'Singing together' assembly led by Mrs Young. The children have the opportunity to perform their singing and play their instruments in productions and celebrations throughout the year. We love to hear live music being played and learning about the different groups of instruments, benefiting from visiting musicians during the year. Children have the opportunity to learn an instrument from visiting specialist music teachers who teach the Guitar and Keyboard. Our children are encouraged to develop an interest in music and we have Monthly music themes for our assemblies focused around a 'Musician of the Month'.
 

We have a very active school choir who have performed for numerous events. We take place in the Seasonal Concert organised by the Rotary Club of Wellingborough at The Castle Theatre which is always a yearly highlight. We also regularly sing at Wellingborough library and for community events. We have established links with a local care home, Lancum House, and the children are regularly invited to perform for the residents.