Music

At Yardley Primary School we believe that music has the power to make life better for everyone.  It has the power to make us cry, and to make us dance.  It unites people across divides.  It consoles us in tough times.  It reminds us how it feels to be at our best.  At Yardley, we aim to nurture the talents and passions of tomorrow’s musicians.

Our School values are Aspire, Inspire and Teamwork.  We believe that a good music curriculum inspires a lifelong enthusiasm for learning in children.  Music naturally ignites curiosity, aspiration, and determination.  Regular good-quality music making builds resilience, creativity, positivity, independent learning skills, and wellbeing.  It allows children with a wide range of abilities and needs to truly enjoy and achieve in their learning, and to develop the personal confidence, and emotional and social skills which support good teamwork and other skills for life.

At Yardley Primary School we aim to give every child regular access to these things, to make life better for them, now and in the future.

We teach weekly whole-class music lessons in Years 1 to 6, using the Kapow online music resource and scheme, which ensures coverage of the National Curriculum.  We provide small group specialist teaching in flute, clarinet, recorder, piano and keyboard, as well as whole-class instrumental teaching (glockenspiel) in Years 3 and 4.  We also have a Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) Choir. 

Teaching using the Kapow modules allows children to build upon previous learning and supports gradual progression in the various elements of music.  These include listening, performing, composing and knowledge of music history.

Progression within these key skills and understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music (pulse, pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notation) is built into the long-term planning of music across year groups, in a cyclical way, so that children can build on previous knowledge and gradually deepen their understanding of, and fluency in, key elements of music creation and appreciation. 

Teachers assess children on an ongoing basis.  Children who need extra support or extra challenge are supported in lessons through differentiated resources.  Musical vocabulary is consolidated throughout each unit with help from the learning environment.

Children enjoy weekly music-making opportunities with their classmates.  They build self-confidence, and a passion for learning, through fun, interactive lessons.  They develop their musical knowledge and skills through singing, playing instruments, performing, improvising and composing, and through listening to and discussing musical works from a broad range of historical and geographical genres.  Music lessons are easily accessible to all children and are a weekly highlight for many. 

Children with a particular passion or aptitude for music take part in additional music making opportunities.  They are able to realise their potential as musicians, and further develop their natural passion for learning, sometimes taking ABRSM grade exams as appropriate.  They take pride in their playing or singing and keenly look forward to termly opportunities to perform.  Children are inspired by their music making and often input ideas into what future concerts might look like.  Concerts and performances, inside and outside school, bring the community together and provide a ‘buzz’ for everyone involved.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Music is taught through the specific area of learning and development, expressive arts and design.  This is delivered through a combination of short teacher-led whole class sessions, exploration, and child-initiated play.  The teacher-led session focus on building children's confidence, skills and understanding when listening to and responding to music, singing and music making, and exploring and playing a variety of instruments.

To find out more about our early years curriculum, visit our E.Y.F.S. page here.

If you require any further information about this curriculum area or any other, please do not hesitate to contact us.