Over the course of our journey from Year 1 to Year 6, we experience music from different countries, cultures, decades and genres!

Music

Intent

At Barming Primary School, we hope to foster a lifelong love of music by exposing pupils to diverse musical experiences and igniting a passion for music.   By listening and responding to different musical styles, finding their voices as singers and performers and as composers, all will enable them to become confident, reflective musicians. 

The aims of our Music curriculum are to develop pupils who:

• Create and compose music on their own and with others.
• Enjoy and have an appreciation of a range of different musical styles e.g. Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock etc.
• Can sing and use their voices individually and in a group.
• Use and understand musical language and include musical features in their own work.
• Make judgements about the quality of music.
• Have opportunities to play a wide variety of instruments.
• Have different opportunities to take part in performances.
• Use technology appropriately when composing.
• Have opportunities to learn a musical instrument.
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated.
• Listen to, review and evaluate the work of great composers and musicians from a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions.

Implementation

• Children at Barming Primary School will participate in a weekly music lesson.   We make use of the online musical resource Kapow for delivery of music across the school.

• Kapow planning is used by teachers to drive children’s development within music. Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.   This serves as a base to aid and enhance our teaching, but is not intended to be rigidly adhered to.   Teachers should make professional judgements about when to adapt or add additional materials where this would benefit learning.
• Lessons provide opportunities for children to develop practical skills and progress by listening and appraising, singing, playing, composing, and performing.
• There will be a clear progression of playing instruments through the school with Year 2 learning to play the ocarinas, Year 3 learning the recorder and Year 4 will have a specialist music teacher, from Kent Music School, teaching them how to play the ukulele through the whole school year. 
• We promote an enjoyment and foster interest of music through musical workshops like Rock Steady and other extra- curricular opportunities such as the Young Voices School Choir and Ukulele Club.
• Pupils experiencing difficulties will be given extra encouragement by working in small groups with the teacher/ support staff or with a more musically able child.
• Instrumental groups will be encouraged to perform in Assembly whenever performances are ready to be heard.
• Kapow can be supplemented by the subject leaders and the teacher’s own input to match and compliment the creative curriculum.   The scheme also provides the necessary details, activities, accompaniments and recordings to support our music teaching.
• Music skills and skills progression are monitored, as is the delivery of music.
•  Resources: We have a range of music equipment and resources that can easily be moved around the school.
• There are a number of other tuned instruments including: Keyboard, piano, guitars, tambourines, drums, bells and more.
• Access to Kapow resources is available to all staff.

Impact
 

Whilst in school, children have opportunities to make their own musical journey, which allows them to discover areas of strength, as well as areas they might like to improve upon.   The nature of music and the learner creates opportunities from which a child may access abilities such as: achievement, self-confidence, interaction with and awareness of others, and self-reflection.   Music will also develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to students individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world.   Children are able to enjoy music, in as many ways as they choose - either as a listener, creator or performer.   They can discuss music and comprehend its parts.   They can sing, add rhythms and create melodies in a group and they can further develop these skills in the future and continue to enjoy and embrace music in their lives.

Young Voices 2022    

On Tuesday 24th May, 36 of our wonderful Year 5 & 6 children went to the 02 to perform in their own Young Voices concert as a part of a choir of 8,500 children.  The children had worked extremely hard since September 2021 and had to contend with a postponement of their concert date to May.  They were all FAB-U-LOUS and were a real credit to Barming Primary.  We were treated to songs from the Lion King, a Beatles medley, The Living Years and lots more.  Well done Young Voices Choir 2022!  Very proud of all of you! Roll on 2023!

Mrs Armstrong.