Music

Music at Gateway Primary School

Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. At Gateway, music brings our school community together through different enjoyable activities and the pupils develop a love of music. Pupils will participate in a range of high quality musical experiences, throughout their school life from Foundation Stage to Year 6.  Consequently, pupils will develop as musicians with an increase in self-confidence. They develop their understanding of how music is structured and how it is performed in different cultures around the world.

Music offers children an opportunity to:

• Progress in skills through our linear curriculum allows the opportunity for pupils to gradually build on their musical knowledge and skills (see the progression in skills document for more detail).
• Engage in activities where they listen, perform and evaluate music across a range of genres and traditions.
• Develop their ability to sing and use their voices to compose music on their own and with others.
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated through the different musical dimensions. For example, pitch, duration, tempo, texture and musical notation. We have introduced the Charanga music scheme to enhance our music provision. 
• Learn about the works of great composers and musicians from different historical periods.
• Make links with other curriculum areas within the topic based curriculum. For example: listening to music during ‘Times Table Rock Stars’; performing dances in P.E. lessons; and learning songs in French.
• Listen to live musical performances within school and the local community, including the annual pantomime trip.
• Participate in a weekly singing assembly to develop singing skills and gain an understanding of how ensembles work.
• Perform in school productions, including Christmas plays and a Year 6 end of primary school show. 
• Learn to play a musical instrument, such as African drums and untuned percussion instruments.  Oxfordshire Music Hub have also given our KS2 pupils the chance to experience some new instruments including brass (cornet) and woodwind (recorders and clarinets).
• Within the local community, perform at different locations for a variety of occasions. For example, carol services, Oxforshire Music Service Big Christmas Sing, Military Child assembly,and for the RAF personnel.
• Take part in extracurricular activities, such as choir and peripatetic music lessons including piano, viola, guitar and violin .

Music lessons at Gateway allow children to:

• Feel part of the school community and bring their families together.
• Develop wellbeing and self confidence as well as listening and evaluative skills.
• Recognise their creative talents and a sense of achievement.
• Embed teamwork skills within shared musical experiences.
• Be inspired to continue with building their musical ability in the future.
• Deepen their cultural and historical understanding through musical activities.