Music

We are musicians!

At Burrington Cof E Primary School we believe that music is an integral part of everyday life and as such, we seek to provide children with as many opportunities to develop their musical skills as possible and to develop a love of music.

At the heart of our aims, and with our dedication to upholding our school vision,  is the desire to provide inspirational musical learning experiences which promote and build confidence, cooperation and a life-long love of music. 

The arts are a vital aspect of society and we aim to help all children, regardless of race, gender, culture or class, be given equal opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to ensure they obtain the cultural capital necessary to become successful, educated citizens. Music has an important part to play in this.

To ensure children receive a comprehensive, progressive and enriching music curriculum, we follow a clear, planned and sequenced scheme of work, underpinned by the National Curriculum. We are currently in the initial stages of incorporating the new Model Music Curriculum into our school curriculum. 

 Implementation

Through our music curriculum, children are provided with the opportunity to become actively involved in music through a balance of listening, appraising, composing and performing. Progression and continuity through the school are ensured through a structured music curriculum which provides the children with a wide range of opportunities for them to develop this range of skills.  It comprises of the following aspects:

A main progressive scheme - We have chosen to use Charanga for the backbone of our music curriculum as it is a high quality, well resourced and diverse scheme, flexible, with a strong practical performance element, designed for both the non specialist and specialist musician.

Instrumental teaching for a whole class (Oak Class recorders Autumn) for a term and a short chime bar course (Maple), both with specialist musicians.

An introduction to some key classical repertoire (through BBC 10 pieces)

Singing skills through participation in singing regional celebrations such as Raise the Roof singing project with North Somerset Music Service and our annual whole school Arts performances to parents (end of year production and the Christmas Nativity (KS1).

Additional special collaborations with Churchill Music Society such as the Power of Music Project with Y5/6 and opportunities for children to experience live performances of professional musicians where possible.

Although music is taught as a subject in its own right, we seek opportunities to maximise cross-curricular links where possible, both to enhance learning through the power of music as a tool for learning as well as the important direct musical links with other subject areas eg. cultural associations in history and geography, scientific principles which govern instrumental sound production. etc. Children perform popular 'old time' songs of the past to entertain residents during a visit to St Monica's home.

The children will listen to and explore a wide variety of different styles of music to expand their knowledge, understanding and skill development. We are committed to enabling the children to develop an awareness of musical traditions and developments at different times in history and in a variety of cultures and genres. 

Children engage in our weekly 'Worship through Song' sessions which are led by the Specialist Music Subject Leader and features musical teaching points as well as being a reflective act of worship.

We have a stock of instruments, both tuned and untuned which are used in music sessions, and our  music scheme provides non-specialists with the support and subject knowledge they need to deliver a high quality curriculum. 

We value our collaborative working partnerships and are proud to take part in the Churchill Music!  Power of Music Project in Y5 and 6 (with professional musicians) and the North Somerset Music Hub Wider Opportunities Project in Y2,3 and 4. Workshops, festivals, productions and concerts form part of our music entitlement at Burrington as well as the opportunity to be part of the school choir. 

Children are encouraged to learn an instrument and opportunity is given for our young musicians to perform, whether accompanying children entering church for collective worship or taking part in our musical concerts, designed to give experience of playing in front of a sympathetic audience. Children take part in the Young Rotary Musician competition. We take full advantage of the offers from our local Music Service Hub, who also provide a range of peripatetic teachers for individual music lessons (brass, wind, string and keyboard). 

Impact

It is a delight to see how many of our past pupils continue their musical adventures in their secondary schools as members of an orchestra, choir or as a soloist; however, to instil in all  children the sheer joy of music and the recognition that everyone is musical which can be carried with them throughout life, is the greatest impact we should wish to have.

Through the delivery of our music curriculum, we want all children to have the self-belief to see themselves as musicians, have secure musical understanding and be inspired. We want them to be familiar with a wide range of musical genres and to be musically encouraging of others.

Through performance, music can develop greater confidence, team work, concentration, sensitivity and responsiveness to others and we hope that children at Burrington will, through their wide musical education, develop these additional transferable skills.

Whether a child is participating in a musical event as a performer,  listening to the music of others or experiencing music as a part of everyday life, we want all children to recognise the power of music and its universality; Music is for all!