Music

At Valley Gardens Middle School we aspire to deliver a music provision that inspires and motivates every learner to become a confident young musician. Our music curriculum encourages our young people to actively engage with music through singing, performing, composing and listening as well as the opportunity to develop a rich musical knowledge. We celebrate the diverse musical talents of our young people and encourage these talents to be enjoyed and shared within our school as well as our wider community.

Each class receives one music lesson per week. Year 6, 7 and 8 are taught by a subject specialist in a block of classrooms that are fully equipped with an impressive range of high quality classroom instruments including keyboards, ukuleles and samba kit as well as a class set of iPads. A small team of teachers, led by our Head of Music, delivers music lessons to our year 5 classes.

In addition to curriculum time, pupils at key stage two benefit from weekly year group singing practices.

The following skills form the basis of the musical learning that takes place.

Perform – Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using the voice and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency and control.
Create – Improvise, arrange and compose music for a range of purposes developing compositional techniques. Use staff and other musical notations as appropriate.
Listen – Actively engage with music and respond through discussion, written observations, movement, musical reply or emotional reactions.

Musical knowledge is also a priority and therefore the following will form a key part of learning.

Musical Elements
Notation
Music from a range of style and genres
Composers and Musicians
Music Technology

Music and Careers

Through our music curriculum, pupils are given the opportunity to recognise, discuss and explore career routes relating to music. The music industry offers employment routes relating to education, performing, creating, administration, therapy and technology. Reference to specific roles is made as appropriate to the learning that takes place in each topic.

Pupils are also encouraged to recognise how music helps them develop skills that are transferable to the wider world of work. These skills include resilience, initiative, cooperation, communication, organisation, leadership and creativity.

Cultural Capital
Our music curriculum takes pupils through a musical journey of discovery in which pupils explore music from a range of different times and places including Baroque Instrumental Music, Indian Raga and the development of Blues. Pupils are encouraged to build and express their own musical opinions while respecting those of other people. Music provides a powerful tool for understanding other cultures and helps pupils to understand the world in which they live.