Music
Intent
At Diamond Hall Infant Academy, we believe that music is a universal language that engages and inspires pupils to develop their love and knowledge of music. Our music curriculum is accessible to all children and helps them to create, express and appreciate music. We are committed to developing a curiosity of music, giving children the understanding of its importance. We encourage children to participate in a range of musical experiences throughout the school, developing confidence and musical appreciation.
Implementation
Our children study music through a topic based curriculum, outlined in the curriculum overview. Music teaching ensures children express and appreciate music through experiences, listening, singing, playing, performing and evaluating whilst developing their knowledge and awareness of culture and history.
All staff are trained in a music teaching and learning programme named Charanga, which is a resource available to support the teaching and learning of music should staff wish to access it.
In addition to topic based music sessions, all children access weekly music skills. Nursery explore music in their continuous provision. By doing this, the children understand how to read basic music notation by the end of year 2. Year 2 children have the opportunity to join the school choir, which gives the children a range of performance opportunities. Composing and performing using vocal sounds and percussion is a large part of our curriculum. All pupils participate in weekly singing assemblies where they develop their skills and knowledge of various singing techniques, develop both self-esteem and belonging as well as improving mental health and developing their ability to perform.
Impact
At Diamond Hall Infant Academy, children have access to a varied music curriculum, allowing them to discover their own strengths.
Children are able to identify and access music in a variety of different ways including as a performer, listener or player. The impact of music is measured through formative assessments. If they wish, teachers may use the ‘Charanga’ programme to support with assessment and in making decisions about the next steps for their class / pupils.
By the end of KS1, children will have been exposed to a range of different musical genres, live performances, have developed and extended their music related vocabulary and have a understanding of notation.