Music

Intent

At The Dassett we are following the Model Music Curriculum. The emphasis for our school is on enjoyment and giving all children access to a high quality musical education. Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives. Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our school, music brings everyone together through whole-school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and performing. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.

Implementation

The music curriculum at The Dassett ensures children sing, listen, compose, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom through the structured music programme based on Charanga as well as singing assemblies, concerts and performances, musical clubs and teaching from specialist music teachers. The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom children learn how to compose, focusing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum from EYFS up to KS2, which further develops the understanding of musical elements. All children are given opportunities to play both tuned and untuned musical instruments and to develop an understanding of musical notation. Music is taught both through discrete lessons, but also embedded within the school ethos and part of daily life at the school.

Impact

Every child at The Dassett will be able to experience music and make progress. This includes singing, as well as having the opportunity to learn an instrument through whole-class ensemble and small group teaching in KS2. We expect all of our children to meet age-related expectations for music. Children will actively listen to a wide range of music throughout their time at The Dassett, broadening their musical horizons and gaining a deeper understanding of how music is constructed and the impact it can have on the listener. Performance opportunities will be given to allow celebration and sharing of musical progress and to encourage feedback and collaboration. Throughout their time with us, children are able to enjoy music in a variety of roles – either as listener, creator or performer. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts and can sing and feel a pulse. During their time at The Dassett, we aim to immerse children in music and provide the foundations for a lifelong love of music.