The Music curriculum at Elsley aims to provide opportunities for developing a love of music. We understand that music is central to the human experience and can have powerful and far reaching effects. Our intention is to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding of the key elements of music to empower them to become confident and expressive musicians. Through studying a range of musical genres, composers and instruments we aim to increase pupils’ awareness of the impact of music around the world as well as on a personal level. We expect that pupils will primarily learn through experiencing and creating music as well as learning about music in its historical and cultural context. Music is used across the curriculum and helps the Elsley community to celebrate various events throughout the year. Pupils will be given opportunities to perform with their classes and as individuals during school events such as class assemblies, singing assemblies, end of term concerts and within weekly music lessons. Through partnering with Brent Music Service and other musical organisations, we aim to provide a wide and diverse range of musical opportunities for pupils such as working with professional orchestras, joining borough wide musical celebrations and watching live music.

At Elsley we intend for our pupils to have a sequential and progressive musical learning journey. We aim to provide a full music education for all pupils including the most disadvantaged as music can have such a profound effect on a child’s life. Research has shown that pupils who engage in musical learning perform better in subjects such as maths and literacy. The positive impact of music on the cognitive, social and emotional development of pupils must not be underestimated.

Our curriculum allows pupils to develop the following disciplinary skills within the domain of Music:

• Sing with joy and confidence
• Explore and develop an understanding of the elements of music
• Describe, evaluate and create compositions using musical elements
• Communicate musically using appropriate vocabulary
• Perform as a disciplined musician
• Appreciation of music

At Elsley Primary School all pupils are taught weekly music lessons delivered by a specialist as well as short, class-teacher led sessions and weekly specialist led singing assemblies. This ensures that pupils receive an hour of music per week as set out in the government’s non-statutory guidance: “Model Music Curriculum: Key Stage 1-3”.

Nursery to Year 2 are taught by our resident music specialist and Years 3 to 6 are taught by specialist tutors from Brent Music Service. The Music Curriculum for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 have all been carefully designed to meet the National Curriculum standards and take the Early Learning Goals into consideration too. We have worked with Brent Music Service to ensure that our Key Stage 1 pupils are ready to transition into their Key Stage 2 Music’sCool program. By taking into consideration the Nation Curriculum objectives and the non-statutory guidance we cover all aspects of musicianship i.e. singing, listening, composing and performing. Our music program ensures there are reoccurring themes, songs and games across year groups which are used as tools to build pupils’ previous knowledge and understanding. In each year group we repeat and practise key musical skills to ensure no skills are forgotten throughout the year. This is done through lesson warm ups, class teacher led practice sessions and singing assemblies.

 Our pupils are given the opportunity to explore music through a range of approaches and activities. They are given opportunities to discuss their preferences of musical genres, composers and artists. Pupils are given time to explore a range of instruments and learn proper techniques in fun and engaging lessons. They are taught about the elements of music: dynamics, tempo, pitch, timbre, duration, texture, melody and structure through practical sessions.

Both the Elsley music curriculum and the Brent Music Service Music’sCool program are developed using a vocal/aural approach with singing for pleasure at its core.  

Teaching music in the Early Years Foundation Stage is predominantly taught through singing games with an aim to spark an enthusiasm for music and build a bank of songs that can be performed from memory. This helps pupils to develop their sense of pulse, pitch matching, turn taking, understanding of musical mood, dynamic control and confidence. In Key Stage 1 pupils build upon their learning from the Early Years. Using their bank of familiar songs they explore the elements of music and gain musical knowledge and skills e.g. rhythm notation and solfa pitch recognition.

Lessons are full of opportunities for singing solos, gaining correct instrumental technique and working collaboratively.  When pupils reach Key Stage 2 they are able to demonstrate key musical skills such as pitch matching, beat keeping and appropriate percussion instrument use. Pupils within Music’Scool are all taught instruments including recorder, ukulele and djembe as well as continuing to learn musical skills through singing.

For pupils who show a good level of musical aptitude, we offer private instrumental lessons in partnership with Brent Music Service peripatetic specialist tutors. Those learning an instrument or with a talent for singing are encouraged to join BMS ensembles and orchestras or our own school choir. Pupils who are a part of our choir or a BMS ensemble are given the opportunity to perform locally within the community. For example, our resident choir have performed at the LDO, at a local care home and been a part of the BMS choir festival.

Elsley has a collaborative method of evaluating curriculum impact. Pupil progress is evaluated against our skills and knowledge progression map, teacher assessment for learning and peer and self-assessment. We also welcome cross-school collaboration to ensure that our curriculum design successfully meets and challenges our pupils.

Studying music helps our pupils to develop:

• Collaborative working skills
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Communication skills
• Memory
• Gross and fine motor skills
• Personal expression
• Regulation of behaviour
• Wellbeing
• A positive, calm environment
• Better focus
• Be a part of shared experiences

We aim for our pupils to:

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians.
• Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence.
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.