At Elmhurst, we believe music embraces our individuality, creativity and most importantly, our self-expression. Music is shaped around our whole school intent as it encourages oracy, independence and gives our children rich experiences. Every child should have the opportunity to develop their musical potential and we aim to nurture this across the school. Our music curriculum is working within the national curriculum ensuring that every child has a music education and is exposed to the importance and to the joy of music.
We have developed our own music curriculum with the help of music programmes to inform our planning. As lessons are taught, they are continually adapted to encourage progression of our pupils as well as the teaching needs of our teachers. We provide team-teaching and INSET training to help our teachers develop.
Our music curriculum has three main elements: listening, performance and notation. Units focussing on these music fundamentals are planned for each year group, with small building blocks ensuring consolidation and progression. Listening is woven throughout the curriculum and children will listen to a wide variety of music during their time at Elmhurst. They become active listeners as they start to identify different musical elements (pitch, dynamic, timbre, texture, and rhythm), instruments, styles and composers. This greater- depth listening will inform the children's own compositions. The children will have the opportunities to compose music in different ways across key stages, including using music technology. The performance element is developed across year groups, from performance within class to assemblies, to school showcases and productions.
In KS1 children have access to a wide range of untuned instruments, even at this early stage they will be using graphic notation to record their compositions. In KS2 all children have the opportunity for instrumental lessons. Starting with the recorder in year 3, the glockenspiel in year 4, small group flute or clarinet in year 5 and finally the keyboard in year 6. During these lessons the children learn to read basic notation.
For pupils with special educational needs, music can be a wonderful and accessible experience for them. We have seen that music therapy is invaluable so we offer this for some our most vulnerable pupils. There is also a small group weekly instrumental lesson for SEND children. Children with SEND respond well to sound and music as it gives them a way to express themselves which they may not otherwise have.
As well as time tabled music lessons covering the national curriculum, we aim to go above and beyond this and create a culture of music at Elmhurst. We provide our children with extra music opportunities. KS2 children are offered fully subsidised small group instrumental tuition in the clarinet and flute. These children will work towards their music medal exams in their chosen instrument. The school choir meets every week and performs for special events throughout the year. The choir also spreads the joy of music to our wider community through public performances.
We work closely with music specialists and centres of music excellence such as Newham Music, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Barbican as well as others to ensure that our children are getting a wonderfully rich musical experience throughout their school years.
Here is our Music Curriculum Map if you would like to take a look. We also have a Music Development Plan which details our Music provision.
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