Music

How the Scheme is structured

Each Unit of Work comprises the of strands of musical learning which correspond with the national curriculum for music:

1. Listening and Appraising
2. Musical Activities
   1. Warm-up Games
   2. Optional Flexible Games
   3. Singing
   4. Playing instruments
   5. Improvisation
   6. Composition
3. Performing

Mastery in your music lessons

Charanga Musical School Units of Work enable children to understand musical concepts through a repetition-based approach to learning. Learning about the same musical concept through different musical activities enables a more secure, deeper learning and mastery of musical skills. The Activity Manual guides you through each strand of musical learning from Reception to Upper Key Stage 2 in order for you, as a teacher, to plan for your teaching and to see the opportunity to embed a deeper learning, knowledge, understanding and skills.

Musical teaching and learning is not neat or linear. The strands of musical learning, presented within the lesson plans and the on-screen resources, are part of the learning spiral. Over time, children can both develop new musical skills and concepts, and re-visit established musical skills and concepts. Repeating a musical skill doesn’t necessarily mean their progress is slowing down or their development is moving backwards! It’s just shifting within the spiral. Mastery means both a deeper understanding of musical skills and concepts and learning something new.

Resources/Instruments

• A class set or half a class set of glockenspiels – this is the most important resource along with any un-tuned percussion instruments you might have in school
• iPad app – glock or un-tuned percussion app can be used
• Recorders – use if you have experience playing and teaching this instrument
• If children play band/orchestral instruments, encourage them to use those instruments in the music lesson

Learning Progression

Learning Progression

The diagram above depicts the depth of learning that occurs as the children move through the year groups. As they progress, the colour deepens and the learning widens:

Interrelated Dimensions

All musical learning in this scheme is built around the Interrelated Dimensions of Music: pulse, rhythm, pitch, tempo, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and notation. These dimensions are at the centre of all the learning.

From Reception to Year 6, the learning consists of six half-termly Units of Work. The final unit in each year – Reflect, Rewind and Replay – allows for revision and more extension activities.

What is included in each Unit of Work?

1. Listen and Appraise
2. Musical Activities include Games, Singing, Playing, Improvising and Composing
3. Perform/Share

Each lesson in the Scheme is designed to last for one hour but can be taught in 45 minutes if there are time constraints. It is difficult to teach a credible music lesson in less than 45 minutes. If you are in this situation you may prefer to use the Musical School Freestyle approach where you can build your own lessons to suit your circumstances (click the Freestyle tab at the top of this page).

1. Listen and Appraise

Listen and Appraise

This overview diagram includes all the listening opportunities in this Scheme through historical periods to present day.

Style Indicator Guide

This Style Indicator guide will support learning and is printable

2. Musical Activities

All activities are based around a song. The Activity Manual provided is to support the teaching and learning here.

1. Games embed the Interrelated Dimensions of Music through repetition
2. Singing is at the heart of all the musical learning
3. Playing instruments with the song to be learnt – tuned/un-tuned classroom percussion and an option to play any band instrument. A sound-before-symbol approach is used but scores are provided as an understanding of notation is introduced to the children
4. Improvising with the song using voices and instruments occurs in some Units of Work
5. Composing with the song using instruments occurs in some Units of Work

3. Perform/Share

Share what has taken place during the lesson and work towards performing to an audience.

Musical Progression

The musical progression through KS1 and KS2 is demonstrated in the diagram below. The instrumental work is differentiated allowing children to move through the relevant parts as they need to. Remember that an integrated approach to musical learning means that the whole musical experience is important, children are learning music through these activities.

Musical Progression KS1

Musical Progression KS2

Style and Cross-Curricular Links KS1

Style and Cross-Curricular Links KS2

Assessment

The Musical School Assessment Framework uses a Plan-Do-Check-Review approach and is supported by planning and assessment documentation, with the facility for you to upload and store digital evidence.