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Curriculum

Music

At Aldersbrook we would like Music to be engaging and enriching so that all pupils feel involved and are confident in every lesson and in all the skills they are learning. Our creative approach will inspire children to be curious about the construction of music and will inspire self-confidence in communication when performing and in all areas of life. The introduction to quality music across a range of genres will stimulate pupils to listen, appraise and appreciate. We want to produce lifelong musicians and encourage them to have the independence to explore the world of music on many levels and to develop their own knowledge and skills.

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 inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

The Music curriculum at Aldersbrook builds on previous knowledge and skills allowing children to revisit concepts whilst developing learning through new topics. This structured approach allows children to feel confident in their development and keen to explore further. The knowledge and skills that we teach are taken from the National Curriculum and are presented on a progression document.

At Aldersbrook everyone enjoys singing and the sense of community and belonging it brings. We work hard to improve our work and take pride in the quality of performance. Across the school, we identify exciting areas of the universal language of music to explore. This is done through extended topics giving opportunities to play instruments, improvise, compose, notate, listen and appraise, collaborate, to understand historical context and purpose and to boost communication skills and confidence. We aim to inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians to the very best of their ability.


This is what all year groups cover across the year:


Seed, Stem and Soar in Music: 

 

What this learning looks like

Examples

Seed

  • Builds all foundations of knowledge and skills
  • Repetitive
    skills
  • Forms new understanding
  • Vocabulary

 

Questioning:

  • Recall
  • Simple comprehension

Listen to and appraise performances of Webern Quartet and the opening of the Berg Violin Concerto

Learn about the history of the repertoire and the compositional technique Serialism.

 

Stem

Related image

  • Recalls foundations knowledge and skills
  • Decision-making to apply foundations
  • Develops informed understanding

 

Questioning:

  • Synthesis
  • Analytical

In small groups, work to create a short melody using a tone row, dynamics and duration and to perform to the class.

Soar

  • Reflects and transfers foundations of knowledge and skills
  • Inventive application of foundations
  • Justifies and links understanding

 

Questioning:

  • Application
  • Evaluation

To independently compose using notation and a tone row, a piece of music for a special event of your choice, describe the event and give the piece a title.

 


Educational Visits

London Symphony Orchestra - I Need My Monster 

Through the Looking Glass - The Barbican