Music

Subject Statement of Intent – Music

At Holy Rosary, we believe that the Music curriculum helps children gain a firm understanding of what music is, through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Children are encouraged to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music. 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. The curriculum is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive, as well as transferable, throughout their time at Holy Rosary and also to their further education and beyond. Children will further develop their knowledge by being exposed to a range of composers.

We aim for all children to:

develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Our children should also know how Music reflects and shapes our history and how it contributes to the cultures of our world. They should 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.

  • Perform, listen to 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 and have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument
  • Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
  • Use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence

At Holy Rosary, Music is taught as follows: FS – Y3 by Peripatetic Staff from Oldham Music Services (OMS); Y4 have Music provided by the Wider Opportunties Service – OMS; and Years 5 & 6 by a Music specialist from Newman College. Music is also taught as one of the main key foci, at least once per term in each class by the class teacher. We implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school, focusing on knowledge and skills outlined in the Curriculum and Progression Framework based on the National Curriculum and ensuring that coverage of the National Curriculum is complete. In Foundation Stage, Music is taught through Expressive Arts & Design: Being imaginative.

A variety of opportunities for Music learning inside and outside the classroom are provided. Educational visits provide opportunity for the teachers to plan for additional Music learning outside the classroom – these include The Oldham Music Festival (Years 2, 5 & 6) and Come and Play with the Halle (Year 4).

In Music, we strive for all our children to enjoy and have an appreciation for music.

Performance is at the heart of musical teaching and learning at Holy Rosary and all pupils participate in a Key Stage performance over the course of the academic year. Pupils also take part in Harvest assemblies, Key Stage assemblies and all pupils from Nursery to Year 6 perform at our annual Summer concert. Pupils who are confident are also encouraged to perform in solo performances. Parents are invited and welcomed to watch all of these performances.

What we teach in Music across the school:

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FS1a.jpg Y5.jpg Y4a.jpg
FS1 enjoying their sensory feelings lesson with Mrs Saville Y5 practising rhythmic notation with Mrs Preen Y4 learning to play the trumpet.

Key Knowledge

Click on the files below to see our Key Knowledge.

Assessment

Assessment for Music is completed throughout the school by class teachers in collaboration with the Peripatetic Music Teaching Staff. 

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, Music is assessed using the Early Learning Goals and Development Matters for. This is recorded using the Tapestry Online Learning Journal and Insight Tracker. 

In KS1 and KS2, Music is assessed against key knowledge descriptors for each area of the curriculum. This takes place half termly and is recorded using Insight Tracker. 

Progression and Key Knowledge Maps

Click the files below to see the progression and the key knowledge being taught across the school, within each theme.

Upcoming Music Events

Monday 20th December – Carol Concert – led by KS2
Wednesday 22nd December – FS & KS1 Christmas Performances
To be arranged – Year 4 Brass Christmas Concert

Foundation Stage Music Key Stage 1 Music Lower Key Stage 2 Music Music Curriclum Map Composing and Improvising Music Curriclum Map Listening Music Curriclum Map Performing Music Curriclum Map Technology Music Map Knowledge Composing Improvising Music Map Knowledge Listening Appraising Music Map Knowledge Notation Music Map Knowledge Performing Music Map Knowledge Technology Music Map Knowledge Vocal Skills Upper Key Stage 2 Music