Music

Intent
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
• Be taught to sing, create and compose music
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated

At Fordingbridge the intention is that children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Our objective at Fordingbridge is to develop a love for music and an appreciation of all types of music. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music and are given the opportunity to develop as a musician and performer. 

Implementation
The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies and performances.  Children have opportunities to learn an instrument and to take part in the school choirs. 

Key stage 1: pupils start to learn basic percussion skills and develop their understanding of the musical elements.  They listen to a variety of music and begin to compose sounds and practise for performances.  They also sing a variety of songs relating to topics and festivals.

Key stage 2:  pupils develop their skills further by learning about the history of music and the genres in chronological order.  They listen, compare and appraise a variety of music using the musical elements, and gain the skills to compose their own music.  Pupils begin to learn about notation and basic musical theory and to practise on tuned  instruments.  They have an opportunity to perform and to learn how to play a musical instrument developing the skills that they have learnt.  They also have opportunities to sing and perform at various festivals and concerts, and to visit various live professional musicians within the community.

Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.

Impact
Whilst in school, children have access to a varied programme, which allows students to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon. The impact of music can enable children to access fundamental abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection. Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose- either as listener, creator or performer. They can analyse music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. They have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.