Music Curriculum - The Big Picture
Statement of Intent
At St. Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy, we aim to develop a curiosity, understanding and respect for music through an appreciation of a range of genres and instruments (including voice).We are committed to ensuring children value the importance of music in the wider world and how music can impact a person’s life.
As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose and to listen with discrimination to the musical canon. Skills in reading and writing basic notation will play a key part in this development. This will nurture children’s passion and any natural talent for music.
Our intention is for all pupils at the end of Key Stage Two to be able to compose and perform simple pieces of music with attention to dynamics and rhythm, including the use of ICT. Children will have opportunities to perform in both solo and group ensembles.
Implementation of our Music Curriculum
Our music curriculum ensures that pupils are given the opportunity to develop their creativity and confidence. Music lessons will engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their individual talent as musicians. By providing opportunities for our children, we increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement.
The Charanga “Model Music Curriculum” (MMC) schemes of work are used from Reception to Year 6. The scheme provides a range of interactive musical experiences to develop our pupils as musicians. Charanga’s Music Model embeds a spiral curriculum and ensures an increase in challenge and progression of skill for children from EYFS to Year 6.
Alongside whole class teaching (with the use of Charanga), we also offer wider musical opportunities for our Key Stage 2 classes. Year 3 students currently learn to play the Ukulele and year 5 pupils are taught to play the keyboard. Additional keyboard and guitar lessons are available for children in other KS2 classes who wish to begin or continue to develop their music knowledge, skills and ability to play an instrument.
Each year, children in Key Stage 2 are encouraged to join our school choir; children of all ages, abilities and talents. Our pupils enjoy learning new music together and celebrate musical achievements. Our choir is led by two specialist music teachers. Throughout the year, our choir rehearses for various events; charity fundraisers, family coffee afternoons and Christmas fairs. Pupils have the opportunity to engage in live performances such as Schools’ Alive and Choir of the Year where they are able to perform on a large stage.
Music Curriculum Impact
Opportunities for pupils to apply their knowledge and understanding to performance, composition and appraising activities will be provided throughout the units of work. Whole class activities allow teachers to quickly identify children who need more guidance and support. Successes will be shared and celebrated with peers.
Baseline assessments are used at the start of the year to assess prior learning and identify clear gaps. At the end of each unit, children have the opportunity to showcase what they have learnt and teacher assessment takes place again.
Curriculum Map
Subject List
Early Years
Autumn 1
Me!
Listening and responding to different styles of music
Autumn 2
My Stories
Listening and responding to different styles of music
Spring 1
Everyone!
Listening and Singing and learning to play instruments within a song
Spring 2
Our World
Singing and learning to play instruments within a song
Summer 1
Big Bear Funk
Singing and learning to play instruments within a song
Summer 2
Reflect, Rewind and Replay
Embedding foundations of the interrelated dimensions of music using voices and instruments
Year 1
Autumn 1
Hey You!
How pulse, rhythm and pitch work together.
Autumn 2
Rhythm in the way we walk and Banana Rap
Pulse, rhythm and pitch, rapping, dancing and singing.
Spring 1
In the Groove
How to be in the groove with different styles of music
Spring 2
Round and Round
Pulse, rhythm and pitch in different styles of music.
Summer 1
Your Imagination
Using your imagination for improvisation.
Summer 2
Reflect, Rewind and Replay
The history of music, look back and consolidate your learning, learn some of the language of music.
Year 2
Autumn 1
Hands, feet and heart
South african Music
Autumn 2
Ho, ho, ho
Festivals and Christmas
Spring 1
I wanna play in a band
Playing together in a band
Spring 2
Zootime
Reggae and animals
Summer 1
Friendship Song
A song about being friends
Summer 2
Reflect, Rewind and Replay
Year 3
Ukulele/Recorder lessons
Year 4
Autumn 1
Mamma Mia
ABBA’s music
Autumn 2
Glockenspiel Stage 2
Exploring and developing playing skills using the glockenspiel
Spring 1
Stop!
Writing lyrics linked to a theme
Spring 2
Lean on me
Soul/Gospel music and helping one another
Summer 1
Blackbird
Pop/The Beatles
Summer 2
Reflect, Rewind and Replay
The history of music, look back and consolidate your learning, learn some of the language of music.
Year 5
Keyboard lessons
Year 6
Autumn 1
Happy
Autumn 2
Classroom Jazz 2
Jazz, improvisation and composition
Spring 1
A New Year Carol
Benjamin Britten’s music and cover versions
Spring 2
You’ve got a friend
The music of Carole King
Summer 1
Music and Me
Create your own music inspired by your identity.
Summer 2
Reflect, Rewind and Replay
The history of music, look back and consolidate your learning, learn some of the language of music.
Autumn: To be able to...
EYFS
Use voices and movement to sing and dance for a familiar range of songs.
Tap out simple rhythms and begin to find the pulse.
Key Stage One
Pupils should use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes.
Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
Key Stage Two
Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory.
Use and understand staff and other musical notations.
Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression.
Spring: To be able to...
EYFS
Use voices and movement to sing and dance for a repertoire of songs.
Explore different sounds of instruments.
Key Stage One
Play tuned and untuned instruments musically.
Pupils should use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes.
Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
Key Stage Two
Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory.
Use and understand staff and other musical notations.
Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression.
Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music.
Develop an understanding of the history of music.
Summer: To be able to...
EYFS
Sing a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs.
Perform songs, rhymes and poems.
Children should begin to move in time to the music.
Key Stage One
Pupils should use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes. Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music and experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.
Key Stage Two
Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression.
Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music.
Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory.
Use and understand staff and other musical notations.
Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians develop an understanding of the history of music.
