Music at White Rock

Intent

At White Rock Primary School, children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, evaluating, analysing, singing, playing and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. We are committed to developing a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music, and an unbiased respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community and that they can use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.  

Implementation

The music curriculum ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom through the structured music programme - supported by Charanga - as well as regular singing in assemblies and various concerts and performances, musical clubs and teaching from specialist music teachers. The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons so that children can 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 key aspects of music through cross-curricular links. They also 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, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.