Music

Subject Leader - Mrs A Wiggins

Vision

At St Andrew’s Benn children learn the key aspects of music through an enriching, engaging and active curriculum. Music also has deep links to aspects of personal development which allows children to build upon the vital life skills that are needed throughout their everyday life.

Through theory and practical sessions ALL children are able to access, engage and thrive in enriching music lessons.

Children’s responses to questions about music lessons are enthusiastic and show a love of the art.

Implementation

St Andrew’s Benn delivers a clear and comprehensive scheme of work in line with the National Curriculum through weekly Charanga lessons.

Charanga is a scheme of work which offers a topic-based approach to support children’s learning in music. A steady progression plan has been built into Charanga, both within each year and from one year to the next, ensuring consistent musical development.

Charanga includes many examples of musical styles and genres from different eras and places around the world. These are explored through the language of music, through active listening, performing and composition activities, which enable further understanding of contexts and genres.

Charanga provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their voices, body percussion, whole-body actions and learning how to correctly handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ musical preferences.

We also widen our children’s exposure to a range of musical skills and experiences through Global Adventure Weeks, Whole School Music days, Young Voices concerts and our Rugby School taught schemes: See it, Sing it and Hands on Brass.

Impact

At St Andrew’s Benn, all pupils benefit from a high-quality music education which engages and inspires them to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians. It increases their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they develop a growing musical vocabulary that allows them to critically engage with music.

Teaching and learning of music is a reflective process for the children as they are given the opportunities to assess themselves and their peers. The children also celebrate their success and skills with their peers and wider audiences.