Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.
National Curriculum 2014
Music is an extremely important subject for all children to learn, and can lead to better brain development, increase in human connection and boost creativity.
The National Curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:
• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music
• Learn to sing, create and compose music
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated
At Heptonstall School, it is our intention to first and foremost help children feel that they are musical and to develop a life-long love of music. We focus on developing the skills, knowledge and understanding that children need in order to become confident performers, composers and listeners.
The children at Heptonstall will develop the musical skills of singing, playing tuned and untuned instruments, improvising and composing music, listening and responding to music. Children are also taught to respect and appreciate music from all traditions and communities.
The Music curriculum is embedded in classroom activities, following the Music Express Scheme during weekly Music lessons.
A steady progression plan has been built into Music Express ensuring consistent musical development.
Music Express includes many examples of music styles and genres from different times and places, including the classical Western canon. These are explored through the language of music via active listening, performing and composing activities, which enable understanding of the context and genre. Examples include vocal melodies from Medieval times, Tudor court music, Romantic ballet music, Twentieth century pop, as well as traditional and classical forms from across the globe.
Music Express builds experience and develops understanding of the dimensions (elements) of music throughout the scheme. Each unit has as its focus one process such as performance or composition, or one dimension, such as pitch, but the learning progresses within the context of all the inter-related processes and dimensions of music. A wide variety of notations, including picture, graphic, rhythm and staff notation are integrated, wherever appropriate, with practical music-making activities throughout the scheme. Notations are used progressively to promote understanding and use of the representation of sound in symbols by all children.
The children at Heptonstall experience and enjoy music during the weekly assemblies, performances by visiting musicians and through the learning of instruments. We offer tuition (via the Calderdale Music Trust) in piano, guitar, cello and violin.
There is a weekly choir open to all pupils from Year 3 upwards.