Music
R. Murray Schafer
At Thornton Primary School, we intentionally expose children to a wide range of musical genres and composers to ensure music is an enjoyable learning experience. Music is part of our everyday practice; through assemblies, music lessons, regular classroom activities and extra-curricular opportunities, such as an afterschool singing club.
We believe that music is a powerful and enriching part of every child's education. Music enables children to express themselves creatively, develop confidence and resilience, and experience the joy of performing and creating together. We want our pupils to develop a lifelong appreciation of music whilst building the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become confident musicians.
Our music curriculum is designed to be inclusive, engaging and progressive, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to participate, perform and succeed. Through carefully planned learning experiences, pupils develop their understanding of pulse, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, notation, composition and performance, whilst exploring a wide range of musical styles, traditions and cultures.
In Year 3, pupils benefit from whole-class drumming lessons delivered by Services for Education. These specialist lessons provide children with the opportunity to learn an instrument, develop ensemble skills and experience the excitement of making music together. Through drumming, children build confidence, discipline, concentration and teamwork whilst developing their understanding of rhythm and performance.
In Years 4, 5 and 6, we use the Charanga Music Scheme to support the delivery of our curriculum. Charanga provides a structured and progressive approach to music education, enabling children to develop their musical knowledge and skills year on year. Through listening, appraising, singing, performing, composing and improvising, pupils gain a broad and balanced musical education whilst exploring music from different genres, cultures and historical periods.
As a school, we place great importance on providing opportunities for children to perform. Every year group performs at least one assembly for parents and carers each year, giving pupils the chance to showcase their learning, develop confidence and celebrate their achievements. These performances help children develop presentation skills, teamwork and a sense of pride in their accomplishments whilst strengthening links between home and school.
As a Gold Rights Respecting School, we believe that every child has the right to access a rich and creative curriculum. Music provides an important opportunity for children to express their views, celebrate their individuality and participate fully in school life. Through collaborative music-making, pupils learn to listen to others, respect different ideas and appreciate the diversity of musical traditions from around the world.
Our music curriculum is underpinned by our school values of Equality, Aspiration, Resilience, Teamwork and Honesty.
- Equality is promoted through ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate and succeed in music.
- Aspiration is developed as children strive to improve their musical skills and perform with confidence.
- Resilience is nurtured through practising, refining performances and overcoming challenges.
- Teamwork is at the heart of ensemble playing, singing and group performances.
- Honesty encourages pupils to reflect on their performances and identify ways to improve.
By the time children leave Thornton Primary School, we want them to have developed a love of music, confidence in performing and an appreciation of the rich musical heritage and diversity of the world around them. We aim for every pupil to leave us as a curious, creative and confident young person who understands the value of music and feels inspired to continue their musical journey beyond primary school.
How Parents Can Support Music Learning at Home
Parents and carers play an important role in nurturing a love of music. You can support your child's musical development by:
- Listening to a wide variety of music together and discussing what you hear.
- Encouraging your child to sing songs they have learned in school.
- Providing opportunities to perform at home for family and friends.
- Exploring different musical styles, cultures and traditions through concerts, performances, television programmes and online resources.
- Encouraging regular practice if your child learns an instrument, celebrating effort and progress rather than perfection.
- Talking about how music can express feelings, tell stories and bring people together.
- Attending school performances and assemblies to celebrate your child's achievements and build their confidence.
At Thornton Primary School, we believe that music should be accessible to everyone. By working together, we can help children develop confidence, creativity and a lifelong appreciation of music.