Drumming Lessons - DCP Drums

The whole school enjoyed a drumming session provided by DCP Drums. They each had their own drum to practise and even got to play the large drum kit.

Intent:

At Wadworth Primary, we believe in the power of Music. Our intent is to provide a music curriculum, which will enable each child to reach their full potential by encouraging children to enjoy singing, listening, composing and performing. We understand that it can help us to be happier and more creative, to express ourselves and work as part of a team. 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 aim to provide children with the opportunity to progress to the next level of their creative excellence with a variety of opportunities to take part in musical experiences both in school and the wider community.

Our core values provide a platform on which we have built our curriculum offer at Wadworth Primary School. Our Music curriculum is underpinned by our core values in the following ways:

• Persevering
  • To develop the ability to stick with something, to continue working, to try harder and to not give up.
  • To understand that the perseverance and attentiveness needed to play a musical instrument.
  • To know that it is fine to make mistakes, when participating when performing, and to understand that mistakes are part of the process to reaching a high-quality outcome.
• Problem solving
  • To do their best work and then to push themselves beyond what they consider to be their best.
  • To develop a desire to perform pieces of music.
  • To have the courage to express themselves artistically and to express their own opinions.
• Independence
  • To develop confident musicians who are not afraid to ‘have a go’.
  • To develop musically and have the confidence to compose and improvise independently.
• Being attentive (listening)
  • Acquire skills through listening to others when performing in a group.
  • Being responsive to the conductor when performing.
  • Have a knowledge of other musicians and the effect music has had on their lives.
• Communicating
  • Improvising and composing their feelings through music.
  • Being able to talk about their learning and share their opinions about other pieces of music.
• Collaborating
  • To respect the work of others and work together to produce collaborative pieces.
  • Perform pieces of music as a group.
  • To support others with a skill you are confident in already.

Beyond the Subject:

• Understanding the positive impact of music on the lives of people and how music can provoke a feeling.
• Having knowledge of the history of music.
• Seeing music as a bigger picture and how other subjects interlinks with music.

Implementation:

The music curriculum ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies, various concerts and performances and the learning of instruments. Through the musical program Charanga, teachers are able to produce inclusive lessons for all children to access the musical curriculum in a fun and engaging way, further promoting a love of learning. Teachers deliver music following the Charanga programme, designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools. Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding. The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to 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 how to play the recorder, brass and glockenspiel. Playing various instruments enables children to use a range of methods to create notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. 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.

Impact:

Music enables children to develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Children are able to enjoy music in as many ways as they choose – either as listener, creator or performer. Children have the opportunity to discuss and share their own thoughts, opinions and ideas, acknowledging and respecting that these may vary and that this is positive. They can dissect music and comprehend its parts. They can sing and feel a pulse. At Wadworth Primary School children are provided with opportunities beyond the National Curriculum to further and support their understanding. These include having visitors with a musical talent, visiting concerts and school productions. External interests and talents are also encouraged and showcased in class and assembly, ensuring that everyone is challenged regardless of previous musical experience. Children have an understanding of how to further develop skills less known to them, should they ever develop an interest in their lives.

School leaders use pupil voice as an effective tool to ascertain the pupils’ ability to musically express themselves. Music monitoring throughout all year groups also takes place during the year to compliment this, allowing leaders to ensure our musicians have the opportunity to develop their skills fully and showcase their talents. This is through pupil performances at various times of the year.