Music is taught through timetabled weekly lessons following 'Sing Education's' curriculum. Links are made to other subjects to allow learning to be ‘cross-curricular’ where appropriate, such as the use of ICT to create music.
At Easterside Academy, we aim to provide an enjoyable and challenging music curriculum which gives all pupils the opportunity to sing, play, create and perform, both individually and collaboratively. Lessons are inclusive and developmentally appropriate for different age groups and specific needs of the children, while still allowing opportunities for pupils to stretch and challenge themselves.
The music curriculum is designed to build a musical foundation and build on skills and knowledge throughout the years. Pupils will become confident in in their ability to create, compose, perform and listen. Children will leave KS1 with good understanding of a variety of rhythms and pitches and basic knowledge of stick notation, using crotchets, quavers and rests. They have learnt and practised key glockenspiel skills through taught exercises and composition activities. Pupils have also been exposed to music from around the world through the folk music based curriculum.
As pupils progress through KS2 they become more confident in their singing and musical skills on a variety of tuned and untuned percussion instruments. Pupils have a more in depth understanding of the inter-related dimensions of music and can describe music using key terms (pitch, pulse, rhythm, tempo, dynamics). They have an increased awareness of different genres of music and music from other countries and can improvise and create music in different styles and metres, including compound time. Pupils can read and transcribe stave notation using simple and compound time, complex rhythms, including dotted rhythms, and a full diatonic scale. Children will move onto KS3 with a passion to learn and share their love of music.
To ensure our music provision at Easterside Academy is of a high standard, our music curriculum lessons are delivered by music specialists from Sing Education. The music curriculum is made up of half-termly units, with step-by-step progression, always building on prior knowledge and skills, giving children the opportunity to consolidate, deepen and progress their rich musical skill set. Sing Education teachers use the Kodaly method of teaching to ensure subject matter is presented logically and building on the children’s previous experience with music. This helps pupils to consolidate earlier learning and link new concepts to previous knowledge. Children regularly have the opportunity to perform and record a piece of repertoire they have studied at the end of each half term, with the chance to describe and discuss what they have been learning and exploring in music lessons. This allows teachers to assess progression and embed the learning of the half term. Other performance opportunities like our academy choir and our Trust wide choir, give pupils the exciting experience of performing before an audience, such as at The Princess Alexandra Auditorium - a stunning 750-seat performance venue based on the banks of the River Tees.
Teachers create a positive learning environment through positive classroom management, and singing led, child focused lessons. Children receive access to high quality music resources and instruments to reinforce the ambitions of the curriculum. Music is made an integral part of school life through after school clubs and regular singing assemblies. Alongside the music curriculum, Sing Education online resources and lessons are used by class teachers and pupils regularly.
Our curriculum is 'active' where possible and opportunities to learn outdoors are taken.
Early Years
In Nursery and Reception children begin to experience making music together. Through singing games, songs, rhymes and listening activities, children learn to recognise and recall songs, pitch match and begin solo and small group singing. EYFS children begin learning ensemble skills with glockenspiel and other percussion instruments.
Key Stage 1
In KS1 weekly curricular music lessons allow students to learn about pitch, pulse and rhythm. The singing led curriculum helps children to discover and develop their singing voice and ensemble skills on a range of instruments, through opportunities to create and perform their own compositions to the class. The Year 1 and 2 curriculum exposes children to a diverse variety of music from around the world and encourages them to perform these to a wider audience.
Key Stage 2
KS2 music lessons build a strong musical foundation for all students. Children develop their appreciation for music and the key role it plays in shaping cultures all over the world. A good understanding of musical theory and notation are developed through exploring new genres of music (classical, pop, musical theatre, jazz and blues). The KS2 school choir and the seasonal and end of year shows, gives children opportunities to share their singing skills with the wider school community and beyond.
We also work closely with Tees Valley Music Service (TVMS) to aid our Music experiences and currently hold the ‘Music Mark’ School badge. TVMS provide a music service in our region, helping to develop children’s musical practice. They provide fun, exciting and stimulating music sessions for our children. TVMS work with each key stage throughout the year enabling the children opportunity to work with musical experts – this allows for musical tuition, as well as opportunity to see professional musicians and singers in action.
Children are ‘given the opportunity to shine’ in music and the performing arts through a number of different events throughout the year. As well as performances for parents, children are also able to share their love of or talent for music and singing through our annual ‘Easterside’s Got Talent’ show at the end of the year.
Music Outcomes
Music in Early Years