Music
"Music can change the world because it can change people."
Bono (U2)
At Mossgate Primary School Music is an enjoyable learning experience where we enable children to love music, either as a listener or participant in making music. We encourage children to take part in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build confidence and a range of skills.
Singing lies at the heart of our music teaching. Children learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and use technology appropriately. We believe that music enriches the lives of people, and so we wish to involve as many children as possible in musical activities. Singing & musical performances are included in a performance every Christmas. In Key Stage One this is part of a Christmas Play & in Key Stage Two this is part of a Christmas Concert, both performed to parents.
Performing within the Community
We give children a range of opportunities to sing and perform within the wider community. Reception children recently visited a local sheltered housing unit to sing to the residents.
Our Christmas Choir recently sang to shoppers in the local shopping centre, whilst raising money for charity.
Musical Compositions
Here are a selection of the Musical Compositions performed by each class for our Christmas Performances to parents. These are the final outcomes of a series of Music Lessons taught by class teachers using children's improvisations and musical ideas which teachers skilfully use whilst ensuring the Key Learning for Music is being taught.
In Reception & KS1 we often link our Music Curriculum to stories we are reading and writing. Here are the musical outcomes of work for each class in our Autumn Units:
Working with local Music & Singing Organisations
We have a strong partnership with a local community based music organisation; More Music and we work regularly with one of their musicians to further enhance the musical learning experiences of all children. Children in Years 1, 3, 4 & 5 have a one hour session with this musician for six weeks in the Spring or Summer Term each year culminating in a performance for parents and/or other classes. In addition the musician runs an after school music club for Key Stage One children in the Spring or Summer Term each year.
We have a long tradition of taking part in both the KS1 & 2 Lancaster & District Singing Festival each year where children learn a themed repertoire of songs, have access to a session with a local singing teacher, sing with other local primary schools, experience singing with a live band to a large audience & see/hear other musical performances at the evening concert which is always a very special event.
Being Inspired by Live Music
We aim to give our children regular opportunities to experience live music, either through working directly with a musician from More Music or from collective experiences like the Music Festival and through whole school events where we invite musicians into school to perform.
Children have many opportunities to learn to play a range of instruments including many hand-held classroom percussion instruments and glockenspiels.
Music Aims
At Mossgate Primary School our aim is that all children:
- perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
- learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
- understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.
Updated December 2023
Mrs B Booth - The Arts Subject Leader