Music - Hertsmere Jewish Primary School

At HJPS, the work done through Music allows pupils to be more confident with: literacy, sequencing, being creative and flexible, communicating complex thoughts/emotions, appraising and sharing ideas with peers, understanding the needs of others, independent working, multi-tasking and controlling gross (and fine) motor skills.

Repetition of tasks is important to gain confidence throughout a topic (in particular instrumental music) and each year group starts a new area of learning each half term.

Music will be explored in a variety of ways, placing music in artistic, geographical, historical and social contexts, building meaningful and memorable connections with the lives of the pupils.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will be able to play and improvise melodies (using steps, skips and repeated notes), as well as reading music using graphic scores (and then notation) to perform simple pitched and un-pitched music. Pupils will explore complex rhythmic and melodic patterns by singing in parts, using pitched and un-pitched instruments, understanding extended techniques and making connections between families of instruments.

Pupils will have frequent opportunities to perform to an audience in: class, assemblies, concerts, shows, annual events or external collaborations. Pupils will develop listening skills by understanding major and minor keys, responding to visual and aural instructions. Pupils will be able to show understanding, internalising and appreciating features in the music that are prominent.

Concepts and features of music are introduced throughout Early Years and Key Stage 1, but progression of knowledge and creative skills will develop more rigorously throughout Key Stage 2 to prepare students for secondary school music.