Music Introduction
Subject Leader: Ms Siddiqui
Downshall Primary School follow the National Curriculum and adapt the planning and implementation to achieve the needs of the relevant cohort each year.
Using the four cornerstones pedagogy, first quality teaching ensures that the key skills and knowledge are taught memorably to enable learning to be transferred to long term memory.
Our music curriculum encompasses performing, critical listening, singing, improvising, composing, and understanding musical elements—the foundational aspects of a well-rounded music education. Lessons are delivered by Junior Jam and designed to offer a broad range of musical experiences.
National Curriculum
Please use this link to access the National Curriculum programs of study.
Our Curriculum Subject Vision Document
Subject Drivers
The subject drivers are what underpin the curriculum that we provide for our pupils and these are embedded within the subjects that we teach. These 'Subject Drivers' are fundamental to our whole school curriculum and all subjects are planned with these in mind.
The Music subject drivers for pupils are:
· Use their voices expressively and creatively by singing and speaking chants and rhymes.
· Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.
In the Early Years, music is taught through a play-based, exploratory approach that nurtures children’s natural curiosity, creativity, and enjoyment of sound and movement. Children are provided with frequent opportunities to listen, sing, move, and respond to music as part of their daily routines and across all areas of learning.
Please follow this link to access The Downshall Music Overview.
Enrichment
Downshall Takes Part in The Redbridge Arts Festival
This year, Downshall proudly took part in the Redbridge Art Festival and joined in a collective song celebrating the festival’s theme of unity. Our choir performed Lean on Me by Bill Withers, Zayd, Year 6, shared: “Taking part in the festival was fun. It was great to see different schools come together and celebrate unity. Everyone was happy, joining in with the songs and performances. Working with the choir helped me realise that you can really develop your skills and learn to sing in pitch and harmony.”
Quotes from children
Music is fun. I liked using my own instrument in the piece. It was amazing that we could play Ukelele’ (Year 3)
‘Music is fun. It’s about understanding and learning and playing instruments’ Zara (Year4)
‘Music is loud because we all play together.’ ‘Music is good because it makes you feel like you’re in a different world’ Abubakar (year 5)
Year 3 Play Steel Drums and Gamelan
Year 3 went to the Redbridge Music Centre where they had the opportunity to play on steel drums and gamelan (traditional Indonesian percussion instruments). "We played steel pans and I learned that in the past people weren't allowed to play drums because they were too loud. So, people made drums out of steel containers (used for oil) and made indents in them with a special hammer that made different music notes." Zaynab, Year 3
Subject Displays
