Music

At Cullingworth Village Primary School we aim to inspire a love of music through practical, engaging activities. Teamwork skills, self-confidence and self-evaluation is developed by learning songs, rhymes and other pieces of music which students have the opportunity to perform accompanied either with percussion or tuned instruments depending on their age. Listening to a variety of music from different time periods and cultures allows students to develop their auditory skills, memory skills, and also to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the music. Music is a prominent aspect of everyday life and therefore teaching these skills will allow our students to develop into young people who have a broad range of experiences and a bright future.

The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the interrelated dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations

Music is taught as a discrete lesson to all children in KS1 and KS2 with some songs linking to the current topic theme. All of our students in LKS2 have the opportunity to learn to play the trumpet, under guidance from a professional from Bradford Music Service. Our pupils all participate in weekly singing practice, during which seasonal songs are taught. Music is further enhanced by visiting bands and ensembles. We offer a weekly extracurricular club (KS2 choir), and students who attend this club receive additional opportunities to perform within our school community, Academy Trust community, and the local community.

Intent

Music education at Cullingworth Village Primary School is designed to provide high-quality, inclusive learning experiences that enable all pupils to develop their musical abilities, skills, knowledge and understanding. Our intent is to inspire a love for music and encourage our children to express themselves creatively, collaboratively and to develop a deep appreciation and enthusiasm for music across a wide range of styles and cultures. There is a clear link between music and well-being. We strive to promote a love of music and singing across a broadened curriculum.

Implementation

At Cullingworth Village Primary School, our music curriculum is built around three primary strands: performing, composing, and listening. Our music lessons involve a range of musical styles, genres, and cultures. In LKS2, we provide whole-class instrumental lessons where every student learns to play the trumpet under the guidance of a professional from Bradford Music Service. Our aim is to instil a passion for learning and playing an instrument to foster creativity and self-expression.
In EYFS, KS1, and UKS2, we adopt the Charanga scheme, which provides clear and comprehensive guidelines aligned with the National Curriculum for music education. These guidelines help students progress across all key stages within the three strands of music. Our music lessons include a variety of instruments, including voice, which enables students to perform with confidence, accuracy, and expression. Additionally, composing activities allow our pupils to create their own music that is either independent or associated with a topic in other areas of the curriculum.
Furthermore, we offer our students the platform to experience performing for a bigger audience. This is achieved by involving them in seasonal performances and class assemblies that showcase their talents to their family and fellow students. We also have an extracurricular music club (KS2 choir) that meets weekly. Students attending this club receive additional opportunities to perform within our school community, Academy Trust community, and the local community. They can attend music workshops, concerts, and other events organised by professionals such as Young Voices.

Impact

At Cullingworth Village Primary School, we strongly believe that our music curriculum plays a crucial role in our pupils' personal, social, and cultural development. Our passionate commitment to our pupils' well-being drives our focus on music, which leads to an improvement in their confidence and overall sense of fulfilment. Moreover, our pupils possess a keen enthusiasm for music, which facilitates retention of music-specific knowledge and skills. Across all year groups, we pride ourselves on consistently achieving good progress and attainment outcomes in music, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our pupils meet age-related expectations by year's end.

Our instrumental lessons provide students with an opportunity to nurture their musical abilities, imbuing them with a powerful mode of self-expression. Through our class assemblies and seasonal performances, all students acquire enhanced experience in performing for a wider audience, and they are provided with many exciting musical opportunities within the school, as well. Furthermore, our extracurricular music club, attended by a range of pupils, enables participants to engage with music outside of the classroom, fostering connections with the wider world of music.