Why do we learn music?
Our approach
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6

Why do we learn music?

At Atwood, we understand that the world is constantly changing. We view music as the great connector: bringing cultures and communities together. We have a deep understanding of the power of music and know our shared knowledge of music is crucial in understanding our origins and our place in the world. Music is embedded in our school culture.

Music plays a key role in our aims to develop well rounded individuals, global citizens and community champions. All children have access to a progressive curriculum that builds skills, knowledge, fluency and capability. Every child at Atwood is a performer, creator and composer of music with all children provided with the opportunity to play an instrument from Early Years through to Key Stage 2.

Through our curriculum, we aim to provide a culturally rich, diverse and inclusive method of teaching to encourage children to be open minded listeners who approach music with tolerance and have a wide breadth of knowledge of musical genres from around the world. Our timetabled regular weekly music slots for each year group ensure we offer a balanced curriculum.

Our approach

Our curriculum starts with a vocal programme which builds on prior learning and leads to a creative composition. The children’s skill and understanding of pitch and rhythm become more polished, fluent and complex as we progress through the years. These basic skills are regularly revisited to ensure concepts are embedded.

Children are encouraged to express themselves through music, so their voices are heard. We have competent teachers who engage and challenge children. Our teachers are constantly challenging themselves and benefit from specialist training from Ark Music professionals who ensure that every teacher at Atwood is a music teacher.

Weekly singing assemblies are held for each key stage and children are exposed to and perform music from all genres and cultures and in different languages, helping them to be educated citizens aware of the best of each respective genre and adding to their cultural capital. Peripatetic teachers offer group lessons in violin, guitar, flute and clarinet, with concerts held in July to showcase progress over the year.

Through the One Voice choral programme, we also benefit from weekly choir support, specialist workshops and bespoke accessible arrangements relevant to contemporary world issues.

Whole school Music Curriculum Map

Reception

Study

Vocal curriculum:

Basic pitch, rhythm and singing rhymes
Performance

Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Annual Class assembly

All Reception subjects Next Reception Subject - Art and Design

Year 1

Study

Vocal curriculum:

Musical roots,
Working with pitch and rhythm
Whole class creative project- composition, rehearsal and performance
Performance
Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Annual Class assembly

All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Art and Design

Year 2

Study

Vocal curriculum:

Musical roots
Beat and rhythm – beats in a bar
Working with pitch - including ostinato
Whole class creative project- composition, rehearsal and performance
Performance
Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Annual Class assembly

All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Art and Design

Year 3

Study

Recorder class lessons:

The children begin to learn recorder notes whilst learning to keep to a rhythm with shakers and sticks which all enhances their ensemble skills.
Performance
Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Annual Class assembly

All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Art and Design

Year 4

Study

Samba lessons:

Children learn several samba instruments individually whilst developing their listening and ensemble skills to well prepare them for an end of year performance.
Performance
Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Annual Class assembly

All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Art and Design

Year 5

Study

Rhythm Studio:

Children explore and understand the creative potential of music composition software using Bandlab software.
Children learn how to produce their own original compositions with lyrics and develop an understanding of song structure, tempo, rhythm, pitch, timbre, dynamics, mood and textures.

Boom Whacker instrument:

Children will explore pitch.
Knowledge of rhythm and steady beat are reinforced.
Children learn to play melodies and are introduced to harmony.
Children are exposed to and will begin to read musical notation.
Performance
Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Annual Class assembly

All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Art and Design

Year 6

Study

Rhythm Studio:

Children explore and understand the creative potential of music composition software using Bandlab software.
Children learn how to produce their own original compositions with lyrics and develop an understanding of song structure, tempo, rhythm, pitch, timbre, dynamics, mood and textures.

Glockenspiel instrument:

Children will develop their knowledge of pitch, rhythm and steady beat. Children will continue to play melodies with more complex harmonies. Children will continue to read musical notation and begin to write and compose their own music.
Performance
Singing assembly (School)
Winter/Christmas shows
Year 6 Leavers Production

All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Art and Design