Every child deserves the opportunity to engage with music of all styles and from all cultures, in order to develop their own musical journey. At Pocklington Church of England VC Infant School we make music an enjoyable learning experience. We encourage all children to participate in a variety of new and challenging musical experiences through which we aim to build up their love of music, self-confidence and sense of achievement.
Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to:
- sing in tune with other people
- play tuned and untuned musical instruments with increasing control, fluency and expression
- listen critically to a wide range of music from different periods, genres, styles and traditions.
Our Music scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of phase attainment targets in the EYFS Framework and the National curriculum.
“Tell me, I forget; Show me, I remember; Involve me, I understand” Carl Orff (Composer)
At Pocklington Church of England VC Infant School, in the Early Years Foundation Stage Music is taught through the lens of ‘ Expressive Art and Design’’.
Nursery use elements of the original Charanga scheme through activities that develop their ability to clap to a beat, explore untuned percussion instruments to create dynamics (loud and quiet), tempo (fast and slow) and tuned instruments to explore high and low sounds Children have daily opportunities to sing nursery rhymes, learn new songs and move to music. The original scheme has been designed to allow children to acquire musical knowledge and skills which they can then build upon within the Charnaga MMC in Key Stage 1..
Reception use the original Charanga music scheme which develops their: listening and responding skills, learning about the pulse, rhythm & pitch, singing & playing instruments, as well as sharing & performing.
We use Charanga’s English Model Music Curriculum Scheme for Years 1 and 2 which is aligned with the National Curriculum for Music and the non-statutory Model Music Curriculum (MMC) Guidance published by the DfE in 2021. The scheme provides clearly-sequenced units and lessons.
It follows a spiral approach to musical learning, with children revisiting, building and extending their knowledge and skills incrementally. In this manner, their learning is consolidated and augmented and increases musical confidence. Through our use of Charanga, we can ensure that we are fulfilling the aims for musical learning stated in the National Curriculum.
Charanga MMC scheme provides a classroom-based, participatory and inclusive approach to music learning. Throughout the scheme, children are actively involved in using and developing their singing voices. At the heart of each lesson is a song around which the musical learning is centred. The children have the opportunity to use body percussion and whole-body actions, and learn to handle and play classroom instruments effectively to create and express their own and others’ music. Through a range of whole class, group, and individual activities, children have opportunities to explore sounds, listen actively, compose, improvise and perform.
Our Nursery Christmas Concert and Reception Nativity provide the children with the exciting opportunity to learn new songs and dances to perform for their families.. These performances are a highlight of our year and the children have so much fun rehearsing and putting on a show!
The children in Year 1 perform an Easter musical. They enjoy learning more complex and challenging songs whilst performing in character. The children across the school love to watch their peers perform.
As leavers, the Year 2 children take pride in rehearsing and performing their musical each summer. The musicals are a chance for the children to celebrate their learning and increase their confidence before moving to Junior School.
In addition to formal music lessons, teachers use music throughout the school day. During their time in our school, pupils will also learn about spotlight composers: Kerry Andrew (No place like home), Vaughan Williams (Lark Ascending), John Williams (Film Scores), Gustav Holstz (Mars, The Planets). These composers/pieces have been selected to support cross-curricular links. Kerry Andrew is a local composer having studied at the University of York.
Singing is an important part of our daily collective worship. Songs are chosen to reflect the church and /or school year, we use a range of traditional hymns and contemporary songs written for children. Every week the senior teachers and our experienced volunteer pianist lead a singing assembly. Children learn and sing new songs together as well as develop new singing techniques.
Throughout the year we have many different occasions and events that incorporate music such as Christmas Church service, Nativity plays, Harvest Festival, Easter service in church, Thank you assemblies, and class assemblies. We often invite external agencies into the school to share a range of different music with the children. We also offer music clubs at lunchtime and an after-school club run by the East Riding Music Service.