Music Curriculum

Why do we teach music?

Music is arguably the most life-enriching academic subject of them all. A universal language that can trigger emotional responses and kickstart creativity like no other, music is a fundamental pillar of arts education. It is a subject that, besides having enormous intrinsic value in its own right, has far-reaching benefits that stretch way beyond the subject itself. Studying music through learning an instrument can help develop language, maths and cognitive skills, inspire creativity and exploration, enhance memory and coordination, encourage team work and develop social skills, instil discipline and perseverance, bring confidence through a sense of achievement and can be used as a way to relive stress at all stages of life.

Illustration of guitar, recorder, music notes and African drum

Year 3

Year 3 - Autumn - First half term

Week 1

Rules, expectations and presentation

Week 2

Outcome

To recognise the parts of my instruments and how to hold it

Listening

String piece

Performing

Plucked open strings

Week 3

Outcome

To recall the correct hand positions and parts of my instrument

Listening

Orchestral pieces

Performing/Singing

Rhythm songs

Week 4

Outcome

To distinguish between different sounds and notes

Listening

12 bar blues

Performing/Singing

12 bar blues
Copy Cat

Week 5

Outcome

To demonstrate a range of different sounds and notes

Listening

Jazz and blues

Performing

Copy Cat

Week 6

Outcome

To demonstrate how to hold the bow correctly

Performing

Rosin rap
Trick or Treat

Week 7

Outcome

To play a range of notes using the correct bow hold

Performing

Four on each string
Trick or Treat
Rosin rap

Week 7

Outcome

To revise musical terminology

Performing

Four on each string

Year 3 - Autumn - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To demonstrate an awareness of others in my ensemble when performing

Performing

Anna Lou
Four on each string

Week 2

Outcome

To control my bow whilst playing different notes

Performing

Circles in the air

Week 3

Outcome

To demonstrate how to control my bow whilst performing

Week 4

Outcome

To demonstrate how to pluck the strings and control my bow whilst playing different notes

Performing

Jingle bells

Week 5

Outcome

To rehearse a number of pieces as part of an ensemble

Week 6

Outcome

To refine and perform a number of pieces as part of an ensemble

Week 7

Outcome

To perform as a class ensemble

Performing

Various piece form the term and a variety of seasonal fair

Year 3 - Spring - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To revise correct playing techniques and perform

Performing

Way Up High

Week 2

Outcome

To recognise how to use the 1^st finger on the strings

Week 3

Outcome

To demonstrate how to use the 1^st finger on the strings

Performing

1^st finger rag

Week 4

Outcome

To perform with confidence using the 1^st finger

Performing

Busy Fingers

Week 5

Outcome

To rehearse and revise learned songs

Performing

D and E March

Week 6

Outcome

To perform in a concert and assessment

Performing

Variety of pieces to demonstrate control and understanding

Year 3 - Spring - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To revise and perform range of pieces

Performing

Have You Ever

Week 2

Outcome

To recognise how elbow movement relates to performing

Performing

Fiddle Faddle

Week 3

Outcome

To develop elbow movement and bow control
To demonstrate an understanding of how to read different notes

Performing

In Flight
Hundred Pipers

Week 4

Outcome

To improvise and compose independently
To demonstrate my understanding of different notes in my own composition

Performing

Hoe Down

Week 5

Outcome

To improvise and compose independently
To demonstrate my understanding of different notes in my own composition

Performing

Back stretcher

Week 6

Outcome

To assess my understanding of composing, listening and performing

Concert

To perform all known notes and pieces on the instruments

Year 3 - Summer - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To use the 1st finger to perform a range of new notes

Performing

Fiddle faddle
Back scratcher

Week 2

Outcome

To demonstrate confidence using 1^st finger

Performing

Copy Cat
Do Ray Me

Week 3

Outcome

To perform a range of pieces using 1^st finger

Performing

Lazy Days
Copy Cat
Summer Sun
Hot Cross Buns

Week 4

Outcome

To demonstrate how to read musical notation when performing new pieces

Performing

Red Parrot
Green Parrot

Week 5

Outcome

To identify the use of the 2^nd finger when playing

Performing

Hazy days
Au Clare de la Lune

Week 6

Outcome

To demonstrate how to play with the 2^nd finger

Performing

Quick March

Year 3 - Summer - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To demonstrate how to use 1^st and 2^nd fingers to change the notes, listening to the pitch

Performing

Two to Tango

Week 2

Outcome

To identify how to use the 3^rd finger correctly and demonstrate controlled change

Performing

Twinkle twinkle

Week 3

Outcome

To reflect on the skills I have learnt in order to read music and perform

Performing

Twinkle twinkle

Week 4

Outcome

To rehearse as a class ensemble

Week 5

Outcome

To rehearse as a class ensemble

Week 6

Outcome

To perform in front of an audience

Violin

In Year 3 we build on the listening, performing and creative work of KS1 by learning to play the violin. Pupils learn to hold the violin and bow well, learn how to make a good sound both plucking and with the bow. They learn to use the left hand to produce a good range of notes.

Aural skills

Aural skills form an essential part of learning an instrument and there is a focus on being able to hear and internalise the notes and sounds pupils are trying to play before the notation is introduced. Singing forms an essential part of this process. There are also opportunities for improvising and composing.

Musical styles

Pupils are introduced to a wide variety of musical style for listening and performing. They will be able to identify some of the key characteristics of each as well as being able to place them in their historical and geographical context.

Year 4

Year 4 - Autumn - First half term

Week 1

Rules, expectations and presentation

Week 2

Outcome

To produce a sound on both instruments

Listening

Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Mozart Flute Concerto

Performing

Try out clarinet

Week 3

Outcome

To demonstrate how to stand and sit the correct way when playing

Listening

Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Mozart Flute Concerto

Performing

Three note shuffle
Try out flute week

Week 4

Outcome

To demonstrate how to assemble and disassemble both the clarinet and the flute

Listening

Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Mozart Flute Concerto

Performing

Three note shuffle
Assign instruments record numbers

Week 5

Outcome

To identify the different parts when assembling and disassembling both the clarinet and the flute

Listening

Copland Rodeo

Performing

Three note shuffle
Head joint on flute
Clarinet sounds

Week 6

Outcome

To produce a clear sound and put ensure I hold my instrument correctly

Listening

Copland Rodeo

Performing

Merrily We Roll Along
Head joint/whole instrument songs

Week 7

Outcome

To make a clear sound and ensure I hold my instrument correctly

Listening

Copland Rodeo

Performing

Merrily We Roll Along
Simple tunes on the instrument
Can you put that one together?

Week 8

Outcome

To recognise notes on a stave and be able to name them

Listening

Vocal acapella pieces

Year 4 - Autumn - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To recognise notes on the stave and to be able to name them

Listening

Big Band piece

Performing

Jingle bells

Week 2

Outcome

To know where the notes are on my music and to be able to name them

Listening

Big Band pieces

Performing

Jingle Bells

Week 3

Outcome

To perform a piece of well-known music as part of a class ensemble

Listening

Big Band pieces

Performing

Jingle bells
Hot Cross Buns

Week 4

Outcome

To compose a simple piece
Structure
Notes
Sound

Listening

Big Band pieces

Performing

Jingle bells
Hot Cross Buns

Week 5

Outcome

To compose a simple piece
Structure
Notes
Sound

Listening

Big Band pieces

Performing

Jingle bells
Hot Cross Buns

Week 6

Outcome

To compose a simple piece
Structure
Notes
Sound

Listening

Big Band pieces

Performing

Jingle bells
Hot Cross Buns

Week 7

Outcome

To record and evaluate our composition

Listening

Own compositions

Performing

Own compositions

Week 8

Outcome

To play all known notes

Performing

Assessment week

Year 4 - Spring - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To listen to and assess a piece of music

Listening

Short Ride in a Fast Machine
What does it sound like?
How does the composer make us feel?

Week 2

Outcome

To interpret and perform using musical notation

Listening

Blues

Performing

Across the break
Low note blues

Week 3

Outcome

To interpret and perform using musical notation

Listening

Blues

Performing

Low note blues
Frere Jacques

Week 4

Outcome

To perform in two or three part harmony

Listening

Jazz

Performing

Low note blues
Frère Jacques
Brother John

Week 5

Outcome

To perform in two or three part harmony

Listening

Carnival of the Animals

Performing

Low Note Blues
Frère Jacques
Brother John

Week 6

Outcome

To demonstrate how to play a major and minor scale

Listening

Carnival of the Animals

Performing

Low Note Blues
Frère Jacques
Brother John

Year 4 - Spring - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To produce a clear sound when performing different notes

Listening

Frère Jacques

Performing

Across the Break
Low Note Blues

Week 2

Outcome

To compose a short piece of music
In the jazz style

Listening

Listening to various player and performers
What are they trying to show in their piece?

Week 3

Outcome

To compose and record a short piece of music

Listening

Listening to various player and performers
What are they trying to show in their piece?

Week 4

Outcome

To compose and record a short piece of music

Listening

How are our pieces developing?
What can we do to make them better?

Week 5

Outcome

To compose, record and evaluate a short piece of music
Using iPads to record and view our pieces

Week 6

Outcome

To assess the playing of our instruments

Listening

10 pieces full orchestra

Year 4 - Summer - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To produce a clear sound, when performing from musical notation

Week 2

Outcome

To produce a clear sound when performing from musical notation

Week 3

Outcome

To perform a complex piece, with several parts

Week 4

Outcome

To perform a complex piece, with several parts

Week 5

Outcome

To perform a complex piece, with several parts

Year 4 - Summer - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To perform as a large ensemble, applying listening and performing skills

Listening

Opera
Orchestral pieces
Modern

Week 2

Outcome

To perform as a large ensemble, applying listening and performing skills

Listening

Opera
Orchestral pieces
Modern

Week 3

Outcome

To write a quiz about my instrument

Listening

Opera
Orchestral pieces
Modern

Week 4

Outcome

To rehearse all pieces in preparation for a performance

Listening

Orchestral pieces
Modern

Week 5

Outcome

To rehearse all pieces in preparation for a performance

Week 6

Outcome

To perform our assessment piece demonstrating understanding and control of the instrument

Woodwind

During year 4 pupils apply their knowledge to learning a woodwind instrument. They are challenged to further developing their musical skills by learning to play a woodwind instrument.

In Autumn Year 4 pupils learn about woodwind instruments. How they fit into the orchestra, where they sit and the history of their development. Pupils learn how we assemble them, what we have to do to make a sound and learning the first notes. Continuous building upon the year 3 skills of reading music, starting and stopping together, listening to and supporting each other’s development.

Music Development and Understanding

Then in the Spring Term we look at how pupils can compose a piece using a graphic score. Thinking about how teamwork can be used to achieve the best results and share our skills. Pupils also develop their understanding about how to set up the reed and mouthpiece to get the best sound out of the instrument.

Instrument

The year will be completed by pupils being confident with handling and playing their instrument. They will have the ability to set up the instrument, reed and mouthpiece to suit themselves. Work as an ensemble, listen and play together.

Composing a Piece of Music

During the term we compose a piece of music to accompany a short film, this
challenges our listening, observation, counting, recording and knowledge of different musical styles.

By the end of the year children will be able to confidently produce a sound, know how to adjust the reed or mouthpiece, recognise the notes on the musical stave for their instrument and understand how the skills they developed in year 3 can be applied to a new instrument.

Skills

Pupils will build upon the skills learnt in year 3:

developing their ability to read musical notation
singing and keeping a regular beat
composing their own music
listening to a range of different musical styles from all the musical periods
and understand how music evolved.

All these skills are developed and built on in year 5 and 6.

Year 5

Year 5 - Autumn - First half term

Week 1

Rules, expectations and presentation

Week 2

Outcome

To recognise how to buzz on the mouthpiece
To recognise crotchets, minims semibreves and crotchet rests

Listening

Haydn Trumpet Concerto (Finale)

Playing

Buzzing
‘A Quick Warm-Up’

Week 3

Outcome

To produce an initial sound on the trumpet
To recognise crotchets, minims, semibreves and crotchet rests, and be able to read 4 beat rhythms

Listening

Haydn Trumpet Concerto (Finale)

Playing

‘A Quick Warm-Up’
Holding the Trumpet
Playing C

Week 4

To demonstrate how to play the note C and identify position on the stave
To identify and discuss similarities and differences between 2 arrangements

Focus style

Sea Shanty

Listening

What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?

Playing

Learning C
Playing ‘C-Shanty’

Week 5

France residential and Harvest Festival rehearsal

Week 6

Outcome

To recognise what tonguing is and how to start each note using the tongue
To perform a piece together from notation

Focus style

Sea Shanty

Listening

What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?

Playing

Introducing Tonguing & playing ‘C-Shanty’

Week 7

Outcome

To articulate notes with the tongue and do so within the context of a piece of music
To describe how music is used to convey a particular mood and identify characteristics within a piece of music

Focus style

Film Spy Theme

Listening

Theme from the Pink Panther

Playing

‘C-Shanty’
‘Secret Agent C’

Week 8

Outcome

To demonstrate how to play the note D and recognise it on the stave
To discuss time signatures and number of beats in a bar

Focus style

Film Spy Theme

Listening

Theme from the Pink Panther

Playing

‘Secret Agent C’
Introducing D
To recap different musical genres and styles through listening and performance

Year 5 - Autumn - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To recall what improvisation means and be able to improvise 1-bar phrases
To identify the features of Blues music

Focus style

Blues

Listening

St Louis Blues

Playing

Secret Agent C
Trumpet Blues
Improvisation

Week 2

Outcome

To apply my improvisation skills and be able to improvise two bar phrases
To identify the pulse and beat of different pieces

Focus style

Blues

Listening

St Louis Blues

Playing

Trumpet Blues
Improvisation

Week 3

Outcome

To identify notation, understand value and clap quaver rhythms
To use pitch recognition and repeat short phrases using these notes on their instrument

Focus style

Rock

Listening

Crocodile Rock

Playing

The Tonguing Train

Week 4

Outcome

To demonstrate sight-reading skills (children can read and play flashcards using the notes and rhythms they have learnt so far)
To find the pulse and identify first beat of the bar

Focus style

Rock

Listening

Crocodile Rock

Playing

The Tonguing Train

Week 5

Outcome

To identify and perform the note E and its position on the stave
To distinguish between the pitches C, D & E and copy short phrase on their instruments

Focus style

Reggae

Listening

One Love

Playing

The Tonguing Train
Trumpet Jam

Week 6

Outcome

To perform a piece from notation using the notes C, D & E
To compare and contrast two pieces in different musical styles – (Crocodile Rock and One Love)

Focus style

Reggae

Listening

One Love

Playing

Trumpet Jam

Week 7

Outcome

To recall different musical genres and styles through listening and performance

Year 5 - Spring - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To perform in 3 / 4 time
To identify and perform dotted rhythms

Focus style

Classical (Waltz)

Listening

On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Playing

Easy Peasy Waltz
The Trumpet Jam

Week 2

Outcome

To perform a piece in 3/4 time
To perform music in two parts

Focus style

Classical (Waltz)

Listening

On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Playing

Easy Peasy Waltz

Week 3

Outcome

To identify the note B
To compare and contrast two pieces of Samba music

Focus style

Samba

Listening

2 contrasting pieces of Samba music

Playing

B & Cuba
Easy Peasy Waltz

Week 4

Outcome

To perform a piece of Latin American music – children can play ‘B & Cuba’ with the backing track
To demonstrate my sight reading skills

Focus style

Samba

Listening

Bamboleo

Playing

B & Cuba
Flashcard Sight-reading (C-E)

Week 5

Outcome

To recognise the position of B on the stave and read from notation
To aurally recognise and copy 4 beat patterns using the notes B-E

Focus style

Funk

Listening

Pick Up the Pieces

Playing

B & Cuba
Trumpet Funk

Week 6

Outcome

To discuss the characteristics of Funk music
To perform Trumpet Funk, reading middle section from notation

Focus style

Funk

Listening

Pick Up the Pieces

Playing

Trumpet Funk

Year 5 - Spring - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To identify and perform the note F
To identify the characteristics of Jazz music and explore jazz phrasing

Focus style

Jazz

Listening

April in Paris

Playing

Level Up
Mind the Gap
Trumpet Funk

Week 2

Outcome

To develop improvisation skills – children can improvise using the notes C-F
To describe and express an opinion on ‘A night in Tunisa’

Focus style

Jazz

Listening

A Night in Tunisa

Playing

Level Up
Mind the Gap

Week 3

Outcome

To read and play the note F from notation
To perform Mind the Gap from memory, improvising a short solo

Focus style

Tango

Listening

J’ose Encore Aimer

Playing

Mind the Gap
The ‘P’ Word

Week 4

Outcome

To identify musical instruments by sound
To improve articulation and strengthen embouchure through choosing a more challenging level of difficulty in ‘Level Up’

Focus style

Tango

Listening

J’ose Encore Aimer

Playing

Mind the Gap
The ‘P’ Word

Week 5

Outcome

To develop skills in rhythmic composition – children understand that music can be made from rhythms alone
To compose and perform a piece using predefined rhythms

Focus style

Classical (Minimalism)

Listening

Music for Pieces of Wood

Playing

Composition Exercise
The ‘P’ Word

Week 6

Outcome

To develop rhythmic compositions by adding pitch and performing on instruments
To evaluate compositions

Focus style

Classical (Minimalism)

Listening

Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Playing

Composition Exercise

Year 5 - Summer - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To identify the key features of R & B music
To introduce ‘slurs’ and demonstrate slurred articulation

Focus style

Listening

Dilemma

Playing

Smooth Groove
The ‘P’ Word

Week 2

Outcome

To perform the note G
To discuss the characteristics of Ragtime music

Focus style

Ragtime

Listening

The Entertainer

Playing

Smooth Groove
Oily Rag

Week 3

Outcome

To identify the position of G on the stave and read from notation
To demonstrate ‘syncopation’ and read syncopated rhythms from notation

Focus style

Ragtime

Listening

Maple of Leaf Rag

Playing

Oily Rag

Week 4

Outcome

To demonstrate confidence and stamina when playing in the upper register
To identify the key characteristics of Calypso music

Focus style

Calypso

Listening

Jump In The Line

Playing

Blow Blow Blow!
Flashcard sight-reading (C-G)

Week 5

Outcome

To identify the key features of R & B music
To perform ‘slurs’ and demonstrate slurred articulation

Focus style

Listening

Dilemma

Playing

Smooth Groove
The P Word

Year 5 - Summer - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To identify and describe the key features of Pop music
To demonstrate improvisation skills over a wider range and changing chord sequence

Focus style

Listening

Reach For The Stars

Playing

One Small Step
Fizz-A Pop!

Week 2

Outcome

To discuss melodic composition techniques
To compose own melodies using notes that have been introduced so far

Playing

Composition Exercise
Flashcard Sight-reading (C-A)

Week 3

Outcome

To notate melodic ideas on manuscript, adding a second part
To perform and evaluate compositions

Playing

Composition Exercise
Flashcard Sight-reading (C-A)

Week 4

Outcome

To define ‘dynamics’ and interpret the Italian terms
To perform different dynamics levels on the instrument with an understanding of how volume effects pitch

Focus style

Musical Theatre

Listening

I Don’t Need Anything But You

Playing

The Dynamics Song

Week 5

Outcome

To perform ‘The Dynamics Song’
To evaluate the success of the performance using appropriate musical vocabulary

Focus style

Musical Theatre

Listening

‘Loud’ Matilda

Playing

The Dynamics Song

Week 6

Outcome

To recall key musical terminology

Brass Curriculum

During this year the pupils continue to build on the musical learning achieved in Year 4 and have the opportunity to transfer their skills on to a Brass Instrument. Pupils learn how to hold the instrument correctly, produce and control initial sounds, and gradually build embouchure strength. As their technical skill increases, they are able to play a variety of pieces over an increasing range of notes.

As well as learning how to play a brass instrument to a good standard, pupils also
develop their awareness of different musical styles and be able to identify their key characteristics and name prominent artists and composers.

Music Genres

By focusing on a different musical genre every 2-3 weeks, the pupils develop an awareness of a very wide range of music and are able to identify and describe differences and similarities between them using appropriate musical vocabulary.

Aural Memory and Listening

All-round musicianship skills are further developed with reinforcement of staff notation reading and continued focus on strengthening aural memory and listening skills. Improvisation is explored in further detail and pupils become more confident at improvising over longer phrases and a wider range of notes. Improvisation is presented as a way to further develop composition skills.

Singing

Singing is also an important part of the Y5 curriculum and many of the pieces studied include opportunities to develop singing technique and aural awareness.

Year 6

Year 6 - Autumn - First half term

Week 1

Rules, expectations and presentation

Week 2

Outcome

To explore our instruments and play as a band

Singing

Rhythm games
Flash cards

Listening

Band music
What is a band?

Week 3

Outcome

To discover ground base and play as a group

Listening

Bass line
Examples of ground bae
Whole class play the bass line

Week 4

Outcome

Exploring ground base
Chord Layer listen to the chord sequence
How does it flow, where does it go?

Week 5

Outcome

Melody layer
How the melody layer fit above the chords

Week 6

Outcome

Perform whole ground bass piece x4 adding parts
See how the structure builds upon each part
Each layer is independent but also supports each other

Week 7

Outcome

Perform
Record
Evaluate our whole class ground bass piece

Week 8

Outcome

Evaluate our whole class ground bass piece
Improve and develop compositions

Year 6 - Autumn - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To play as an ensemble team work

Listening

Hold Back the River

Week 2

Outcome

To play as an ensemble, work as a team, break down the structure of a piece

Listening

Smoke on the water – layers

Performing

Bass parts/chords

Week 3

Outcome

To play as ensemble, work as a team, break down the structure of a piece

Week 4

Outcome

To play as ensemble, work as a team, perform the whole piece

Week 5

Outcome

To play in small groups, plan and prepare a band piece

Week 6

Outcome

To play in small groups, plan and prepare a band piece

Week 7

Outcome

To play a variety of Christmas music and celebration pieces

Year 6 - Spring - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To understand how to improvise and play in a jazz style
Listen to the chords and look at how the melody can be built on top

Week 2

Outcome

To play in small groups, plan and prepare a band piece
Use the given chord sequence to build the piece of music

Week 3

Outcome

To play in small groups, plan and prepare a band piece
Work together to refine and evaluate our performances

Week 4

Outcome

To play in small groups, plan and prepare a band piece
Rehearse the pieces of music and show what is needed

Week 5

Outcome

To play in small groups, plan and prepare a band piece
Practice the pieces and performances

Week 6

Outcome

To perform and evaluate a piece of blues music

Year 6 - Spring - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To write song lyrics, understanding beat, metre and shape
Look at lyric structure
Metre and rhyme

Week 2

Outcome

To work in small groups to write lyrics to fit them to a melody
Fitting words to melody

Week 3

Outcome

To work in small groups to write lyrics to fit them to a melody
Editing and refining the tune and melody

Week 4

Outcome

To work in small groups to write lyrics to fit them to a melody
Rehearse how the melody and tune fit with the chord progression

Week 5

Outcome

To work in small groups to write lyrics to fit them to a melody
Rehearse and complete the song

Week 6

Outcome

Assessment – did the lyrics reflect the music or did your music reflect your lyrics
How do the two things work together

Year 6 - Summer - First half term

Week 1

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music
Review all the skills we have looked
Think about structure of the song

Week 2

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music
Write the chord progression, does it work well? How does it make you feel?

Week 3

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music
Write the chord progression, does it work well? How does it make you feel?

Week 4

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music
Add lyrics and/or melody to the chords

Week 5

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music
Add lyrics and/or melody to the chords

Year 6 - Summer - Second half term

Week 1

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music

Week 2

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music

Week 3

Rhos y Gwaliau

Week 4

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music

Week 5

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music

Week 6

Outcome

To use our skills of composition to produce our own music

Instrumental Skills

The Y6 music curriculum builds on the instrumental skills developed in the whole class lessons in years 3,4 and 5. It gives the pupils the opportunity to utilise their instrumental skills by performing in a variety of ensemble settings as well as developing a new skill through playing the Ukulele.

Ground Bass – Ensemble Performance

During this term, pupils can either continue with their brass instrument studies or play another instrument that they already play to a reasonable standard. The unit is centered around the use of a ‘Ground Bass’ and pupils use the key musical elements (pitch, rhythm, texture, timbre etc…) to identify and describe the use of Ground Basses across a wide range of styles and genres throughout music history.

The pupils then use their instrumental skills to perform the piece Time lapse by Michael Nyman by working through the individual layers and then putting them together in a group performance. As well as developing musicianship skills such as listening and aural awareness, there is a key focus on team work and developing ensemble skills such as communication in rehearsals. The pupils further develop their compositional skills by creating their own unique arrangement of Time lapse by deciding on the structure, texture, timbres and other elements as a group.

Ukulele

A further new skill is explored in the Spring term with a unit on learning the Ukulele. The pupils learn a brief historical context of the instrument and understand its usage across a number of styles and genres. A variety of basic chords are learnt and the pupils develop an appropriate instrument hold and strumming technique.

Notation Reading

Notation reading skills are further developed by introducing TAB and Chord diagrams, that enable the pupils to work out and perform songs independently. Rhythmic skill is built upon further and pupils also extend their improvisation skills by creating their own unique strumming patterns. The pupils are encouraged to sing along whilst playing and by doing so develop better coordination skills.

Singing

Singing is also an important part of the Y5 curriculum and many of the pieces studied include opportunities to develop singing technique and aural awareness.

Battle of the Bands

In the final term, the pupils utilise their instrumental and vocal skills (now including the Ukulele!) in a grand Battle of the Bands performance. Pupils are introduced to the set song for performance and use their analysis skills to explore the different musical layers and structure. They then learn to play the different layers on their preferred instruments before being placed in their own bands. Ensemble skills are further developed and the student bands are encouraged to rehearse independently, whilst being guided to produce the best possible outcome through good teamwork and communication. The performances are then recorded and peer evaluated to find the best band of each class. These four bands are then invited to battle it out to be crowned the winner in a performance in front of the school community and guest judges.