Music

INTENT

At Arden Primary School we believe that all children should be provided with broad and balanced opportunities to discover learning through the power of an ambitious music curriculum rich in skills and knowledge. We believe that music is the catalyst for creativity and connections with the people and places around us and it provides us opportunities to come together as a school community. 

We aim for children to develop a thorough understanding of music, through performing, composing listening and analysing. Through our curriculum children gain self-confidence while becoming aspirational and resilient learners. 

Our music curriculum aims for children to develop their cross curricular skills of perseverance, problem solving, teamwork, organisation and responsibility.

 

At Arden, we deliver a vast array of musical opportunities in and out of lessons. We ensure that all pupils repeatedly build upon the interrelated dimensions of music as part of a spiral curriculum. Progression in music lessons is clearly sequenced and builds upon the previous years of learning.

Pupils in the Early Years Foundation Stage experience music through the Expressive Arts and Design area of the early years framework. As pupils transition into Key Stage 1 they are taught music following Charanga Music School’s scheme of work. This then continues throughout Key Stage 1 all the way through Key Stage 2. 

Pupils explore the musical elements of pitch, pulse, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, timbre, structure, texture and notation through Charanga’s spiral curriculum. 

Pupils in Key Stage 2 are taught whole class ukelele lessons by Rigby Music, building on their skills each year during Key Stage 2. All pupils are given the opportunity to become part of a rock band through our work with Rocksteady, which provides extracurricular music lessons for children across school. 

There are several extra curricular activities run at Arden that the children have the opportunity to join. During the last year there has been a Performing Arts club for lower Key Stage 2, a Key Stage 2 Choir and a Key Stage 1 Choir. 

From September 2024 we are extending our extra curricular offer with group ukulele tuition from Rigby Music for both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. We are also excited to have Rock Steady Music School delivering a full day of group music lessons weekly. Children will have the opportunity to play as part of a rock band, and learn a new instrument. 

All children at Arden are provided with opportunities to perform and experience live music in different settings.

Children in Lower Key Stage 2 had the opportunity to sing at St George’s church in Stockport as part of the Junior Festival of Carols, whilst Key Stage 2 enjoyed a music lesson delivered by the Benedetti Foundation. Year 3 recently went to the Bridgewater Hall where they experienced a live orchestra and joined in singing learnt songs with hundreds of children from other schools. 

All children in KS1 and KS2 perform an annual Christmas Carol Concert to their relatives in December, while Early Years perform their annual musical nativity which included many different songs. Our Year 6 leaver's musical, written by the Year 6 staff, enables children to showcase all they have enjoyed through their experiences of music at Arden.