Music
At Bitterne Manor we use and follow the Collins Music Express programme to help us deliver our music curriculum. The programme follows the guidance of the National Curriculum as well as closely following the structure and guidance of The Model Music Curriculum.
Curriculum Intent
At Bitterne Manor we intend that our children gain a firm understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of styles, traditions, and musical genres. At Bitterne Manor we aim to develop a curiosity for the subject, as well as an understanding of all types of music, and a respect for the role that music may wish to be expressed in any person’s life. We commit to making sure that children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
Curriculum Implementation
The music curriculum ensures students sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies and the learning of instruments. In the classroom students learn how to play an instrument, from all four main instrument groups of wind, strings, percussion and keyboards. In doing so understand the different principle of each method of creating notes, as well as how to read basic music notation. They also learn how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, which in turn aids 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.
Curriculum Impact
Throughout the child’s journey at Bitterne Manor, their musical skills and understanding are built year on year, from singing nursery rhymes and action songs from memory and performing simple rhythm patterns in Early Years, progressing their skills and understanding in KS1 where they also experience whole class instrumental tuition, to further developing their skills and knowledge of the subject in lower KS2, where the children access music confidently, and have the ability to read and follow a simple musical notes. Throughout all of this the child’s enjoyment of music is a key element, running alongside the ‘taught’ musical skills and objectives.
At Bitterne Manor we assess and evidence our curriculum impact with the use of 'Class Music Books'. These books are used to provide an insight to each lesson alongside pictures, children's comments and summaries of the lessons. Each class has their own Music Book to capture the amazing things they get up to in their music lessons.
