“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind,

flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Plato

INTENT

We intend for the children at Knightlow C of E Primary School to experience music as a powerful and unique form of communication that can change the way they feel, think and act. Music brings together intellect and feeling and enables self-expression, personal reflection and emotional development as well as being a fun and practical subject. As an integral part of culture, past and present, music helps children to understand themselves and to relate to others. Learning music has the power to increase self-discipline, creativity and fulfilment.

At Knightlow, we aim for pupils to develop a love of music and to develop the musical skills of singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising and composing music, and listening and responding to music. They will develop an understanding of the history and cultural context of the music that they listen to and learn how music can be written down.

We strive for children to develop a critical engagement with music by introducing them to a broad range of musical styles and genres and teach them how to listen carefully and be able to evaluate what they have heard. Our curriculum introduces children to music from all around the world and across generations, teaching children to respect and appreciate the music of all traditions and communities.

Through music, our curriculum helps children develop transferable skills such as team-working,
leadership, creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and presentation and performance
skills. These skills are vital to children’s development as learners and have a wider application in their
general lives outside and beyond school. 

Our scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of key stage attainment targets outlined in the National curriculum and the aims of the scheme align with those in the National curriculum.

IMPLEMENTATION

• Use of the Kapow Music Scheme (a spiral curriculum), where key learning is regularly repeated, building on children’s prior knowledge and allowing for consolidation as well as challenge.
• Carefully planned lessons to ensure progression of skills and knowledge across the school. 
• Questioning and regular “low-stakes” quizzes (retrieval practice) used to promote long-term learning.
• Use of Knowledge Organisers to support learning.
• Discreet teaching of the vocabulary of music to support evaluation and composition.
• Opportunity for all KS2 children to learn to play a musical instrument - glockenspiel or recorder.
• Daily exposure to a wide range of musical genres and styles and to the work of composers from a wide range of periods during daily Collective Worship.
• The opportunity to study significant composers and pieces of music from a range of time periods, countries and cultures.
• Regular opportunities throughout the year for all children to prepare and perform in front of an audience.
• Visiting musicians and assemblies to allow opportunities for children to experience quality live performances.
• Revisiting key content and vocabulary in other subject areas.
• Opportunities for pupils to engage in extra-curricular music activities such as music clubs.
• Access to a wide-range of musical instruments.
• Weekly singing assemblies.

As well as the weekly lessons in individual classes we offer the following music opportunities at Knightlow:

• School singing performances at Christmas, the school fete and other events;
• Weekly lessons from Independent Music Solutions in Woodwind, Brass, Guitar and Keyboard instruments. These are open to any child in KS2. If your child is interested in taking up an instrument, please speak to the school office;
• Years 5 and 6 participate in the Young Voices concert at Birmingham Resorts World annually;
• A KS2 Choir which meets regularly (new members are always welcome);
• Wider opportunities such as working with Pop UK and iSING Pop;
• Visiting teachers who have provided class and whole school opportunities with instruments and voice (this year we have offered guitar tuition for all children in Years 4 and 5);

IMPACT

The impact and measure of this is that the children at Knightlow enjoy expressing themselves creatively through music and will have the confidence that comes from performing and sharing their love of music with others. They are aware of a variety of styles of music and are able to listen carefully and share their thoughts about a piece of music. The children at Knightlow will also be equipped with the musical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be successful at Key Stage 3. Furthermore, we aim to have ignited the children's enthusiasm for music so much, that they are encouraged to seek further opportunities to develop their skills and understanding in the future. 

Inspirational Musicians

Below, you will find some PowerPoints where you can read some great facts about musicians who have shaped the world of Music! After this, have a listen to their most famous compositions. Happy listening!