Music

At Macaulay Primary Academy we want our pupils to develop a love and enthusiasm for music. We aim to provide a music education to inspire and engage. Pupils are given opportunities to explore their talents as musicians by creating, collaborating and celebrating through music. As pupils progress, they develop a love and engagement with music, allowing them to compose and listen to a wide variety of music.

The music curriculum reflects the needs of our pupils and broadens and deepens their vocabulary. It develops greater oracy skills and helps them to self-regulate their emotions. Thus, improving their mental health.

We celebrate pupils’ enthusiasm for music through the opportunity to attend our Key Stage 2 singing group and also to take part in music events in the wider community. Children take part in weekly whole-school singing assembly. We also hold annual nativities, carol concerts and end of year performances.

In Reception, pupils are encouraged to confidently express themselves to music. Singing and listening to music and rhyme is an essential part of our early years curriculum. Pupils are encouraged and supported to perform. This develops their confidence to perform for an audience. Children are introduced to pulse and rhythm and begin to recognise this in familiar songs and rhymes.

In Key Stage 1, pupils explore the basic principles of rhythm, pulse and pitch through songs and rhythm games. Pupils are given the opportunity to compose using percussion instruments. They start recording their music using pictorial representation. In addition to this, they learn a tuned instrument. A variety of music from different cultures and eras is used to broaden the pupils’ listening repertoire.

In Key Stage 2, pupils build upon their Key Stage 1 skills with increasing confidence and control. They have opportunities to learn tuned instruments such as the glockenspiel and ukulele. They can develop and experiment with their pieces of work and start to compose in parts. Pupils learn standard notation and apply this within their music lessons. A variety of music from different cultures and eras is used to broaden the pupils’ listening repertoire.