Music at Monkfield Park:
At Monkfield Park Primary School, music is a valued and enriching part of our curriculum and wider school life. Guided by The Monkfield Way, we believe education should empower children academically, socially and emotionally. Our music provision reflects our commitment to nurturing children to be the best they can be, whilst inspiring a love of learning, creativity and self-expression.
We aim to provide a safe, happy and inclusive environment in which every child feels confident to take part in music. Through singing, listening, composing and performing, pupils develop a growing appreciation of music and its role in helping them to communicate, collaborate and celebrate difference.
Key Aims:
Our music curriculum aims to:
- Foster a lifelong enjoyment of music
- Develop pupils’ musical knowledge, skills and vocabulary
- Build confidence through singing, instrumental work and performance
- Encourage creativity, collaboration and self-expression
- Expose pupils to a wide range of musical styles, traditions and cultures
- Ensure music is accessible and inclusive for all pupils
- Support wellbeing, reflection and emotional expression
- Provide rich opportunities for pupils to perform and share their learning
Content and Skills:
We use Charanga as the basis of our music curriculum, adapting it where needed to meet the needs of our pupils and the context of our school.
This allows us to deliver a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum from EYFS through to Year 6, ensuring that children revisit and deepen key musical knowledge and skills over time.
Children develop their understanding of:
- Beat and rhythm
- Pitch and tempo
- Dynamics and structure
- Listening and appraising
- Singing and performing
- Composing and improvising
- Musical vocabulary
- Music from a wide range of cultures, traditions and genres
In EYFS, children explore music through singing assemblies, action songs, rhymes, rhythm activities, movement, percussion and musical play. These experiences support communication and language, physical development, personal and social development, and expressive arts and design.
Progression:
Our curriculum is designed so that musical learning builds carefully from one year to the next. Children begin by exploring sound, rhythm, beat and singing in EYFS, before progressing to more confident instrumental work, composition, performance and musical analysis as they move through the school.
Each unit builds on prior learning and gives pupils the chance to secure and extend their understanding. This ensures that children are well prepared for the next stage of their musical education and leave Monkfield Park with a strong foundation in music.
Wider Impact:
Music plays an important role in the wider life of our school. It helps children to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and pride in their achievements, whilst reflecting the values of The Monkfield Way.
Children have many opportunities to experience music beyond the classroom, including:
- Singing assemblies
- Choir
- Music Maestro performances
- Class performances
- Nativity and seasonal productions
- Instrument lessons
- Workshops and visiting musicians
- Performances for families and the school community
These experiences enrich children’s learning, broaden their horizons and create memorable moments that help to develop cultural capital and a lasting appreciation of music.
Conclusion:
At Monkfield Park Primary School, we believe that music should be joyful, ambitious and inclusive.
Through our use of Charanga, adapted to meet the needs of our pupils, and through the many opportunities we provide for singing, performance and instrumental learning, we ensure that every child can succeed in music.
Our aim is for pupils to leave Monkfield Park as confident, creative and thoughtful musicians who value music as an important part of their lives.