Music
At Shaw Cross we understand that music is a universal language that can join people and communities together and facilitates creativity for all involved. In providing a high quality music education we aim to inspire our children to develop a love of music, explore their potential as musicians and develop their self-confidence and creativity. Our provision is such that children are encouraged to gain a sense of achievement in the musical journey they make, and pride in being able to share their work though co-operating with their peers, and through performance to a range of audiences.
In Foundation Stage, music forms part of the expressive arts curriculum, in exploring and using materials and media, and in being imaginative. Children have many opportunity to join in with song and rhyme within work across the curriculum, such as number songs, topic related songs, phonics rhymes as well as traditional nursery rhymes and songs. They are encouraged to explore beat and rhythm through using their body, a range of everyday objects and through instruments within the continuous provision. Within this they are encouraged to use sound to communicate thoughts, ideas and feelings, such as linking tuned and un-tuned instruments to stories and characters. In addition to this, all children in Reception have a weekly music session taught by a teacher with a music specialism.
Within Key Stage One, children are encouraged to apply previously taught skills, and enhance them in order to refine and improve their work. Music is taught weekly to all our Key Stage One children by a teacher with a specialism. Within these sessions they explore the inter-related dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, and structure through their singing and in using percussion accompaniment. Lessons are based on the ‘Music Express’ scheme of work, with supplementary music and video clips from a range of other sources. Within this work, children are taught, and develop early skills in recording their ideas through musical notation and work with instruments in every lesson. Children also take part in a weekly half hour singing session, with the whole of the Key Stage singing together.
In order to create breadth of learning in music we expose children to a range of genre from different cultures, period of time and styles. Adults in school share their musical interests and children are encouraged to listen and reflect on what they hear themselves and start to make personal opinions on what they hear. Where possible we make links with people within our community and invite musicians into school. Children also have the opportunity to enhance their interests through a lunchtime choir. Whilst we encourage children to enjoy participation in music, we also ensure they are able to experience performance. This occurs internally to their peers and in performance to families, including performances at our local church for both Harvest Festival and Christingle celebrations. Our Year Two choir members also get the opportunity to participate in the annual Kirklees Primary Music Festival, held at Huddersfield Town Hall each summer, where they get the chance to experience a real stage performance complete with conductor and live instruments. Our younger Year One choir members are invited to join in with “The Big Sing” a smaller more local choir performance held at Manor Croft Academy also in the Summer Term.