Every class is taught music for an hour each week. Using the musical program Charanga and specialist teaching, we deliver inclusive lessons for all children to access the musical curriculum in a fun and engaging way, further promoting our love of learning at Willows. The scheme is delivered in half-termly units of work, and learning in singing, listening and appraising, composing and performing is included in each unit. Music sessions are largely practical, and activities provide for creative responses resulting in genuinely musical experiences. 

Each weekly lesson is structured to ensure the interrelated dimensions of music (pulse, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and notation) are taught with regular reinforcement and with clear progression through the school. The more advanced attainment of those learning in informal and non-formal settings is taken into account through activities that enable them to build on their existing skills. All children are supported to ensure that their progress in musical understanding is maximised, with an aim to identify and overcome any barriers to learning and progressing in music.

Each weekly lesson includes music to listen to, with questions asked afterwards to encourage children to discuss how music affects their emotions, their likes and dislikes, instruments or voices they recognise, how music is structured, and to develop their vocabulary. Appraising music is an important way to help feed children’s growing minds with the freedom of self-expression, and understanding how music can be critically evaluated helps students become more independent music makers, thinkers and innovators.

Our children learn how to play the glockenspiel and a variety of percussion instruments in every class from Reception and we run a whole-class instrumental programme in Year 3 so that all children learn the basics of playing the recorder. There are 3 extra-curricular music clubs offered each week, free of charge to our children, which enhance our music curriculum, including recorder clubs for those children who wish to continue to learn to a higher standard.  We also provide further opportunities from Year 4 for children to develop their individual musical talents through learning to play the violin, flute or clarinet. These children, plus those who learn other instruments outside of school, are actively encouraged to bring their instruments to class music lessons so that they play as part of a group, and so that their classmates learn to appreciate their talent and hard work.

Our high expectations ensure children have the skills and knowledge to succeed and we also strive to give children the cultural knowledge to enable them to thrive in society. As part of our Personal Development curriculum and the desire for all children to achieve social mobility, music contributes to the growth of the cultural capital of our children. Music is a wonderful way to showcase the differences and similarities we have compared to other countries and allows us to engage childrens’ curiosity and to develop an understanding of the wider community. Music provides an opportunity for children to experience other cultures in a supportive and informative environment, enhancing their own personal cultural capital. As well as in class music lessons, children are exposed to the ‘Greats’ in music as we listen to music at the start of our daily assemblies, providing a whole-school opportunity to learn about some of our great British composers, famous British artistes/performers and also a range of important genres in music.

We provide regular performance opportunities throughout the school year, whether that is to the rest of the school in an assembly, in our World Music Day concert for parents, our Christmas performances in Key Stages, or for a wider audience such as the annual Young Voices concert in Birmingham. We will develop children’s performance skills and give them the confidence to participate in and enjoy music throughout their lives.