Music at Bushmead

At Bushmead Primary School we recognise the importance Music plays in the curriculum and beyond. We understand that Music provides opportunity for personal expression and growth and the integral part it can play in developing the whole child. This vibrant subject transcends different cultures, abilities and generations and facilitates the bringing together of communities. We value the subject a as unique way of communicating which can both inspire and motivate children with a love of music which they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Music lessons at Bushmead encourage children to be creative, imaginative and confident learners. Our objectives in the teaching of Music align with the National Curriculum in that we aim to ensure all pupils:

• Perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians;
• Learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence;
• Understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations.

What will children be taught?

As children move through our school they will be taught a progressive curriculum that builds on the knowledge from previous years. Children will learn about the following areas in each year group.

Early Years

There are 7 areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage, Music is a subject that is learnt and developed throughout these 7 areas.  Taught across the year and explored through continuous provision: Children move their bodies to sounds and music that they can hear. They join in with rhymes and action songs and begin to build a repertoire of songs and dances- singing songs to themselves and making up simple songs of their own. They explore sounds that can be created using untuned and tuned percussion instruments. They create sounds by banging, shaking, tapping or blowing, listening and responding to rhythmic patterns. They create movements in response to music, expressing their feelings and creating responses through music

Year 1 and Year 2

Throughout their time in year 1 and 2 pupils will be taught progressive skills so they are able to:

• Use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs and speaking chants and rhymes
• Play tuned and untuned instruments musically
• Listen with concentration and understanding to a range of high-quality live and recorded music
• Experiment with, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music.

Year 3, 4, 5 and 6

Throughout their time in year 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils will be taught progressive skills that build upon each other so they are able to:

• Sing and play musically with increasing confidence and control. They will develop an understanding of musical composition, organising and manipulating ideas within musical structures and reproducing sounds from aural memory.
• Play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
• Improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
• Listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
• Use and understand staff and other musical notations
• Appreciate and understand a wide range of high-quality live and recorded music drawn from different traditions and from great composers and musicians
• Develop an understanding of the history of music.

Extra Curricular Opportunities at Bushmead

At Bushmead we strive to provide the children with an experience-rich curriculum through trips, visits and further opportunities to develop their skills. We offer one-to-one music lessons on a range of instruments including piano, drums, recorder and guitar.

We run a weekly choir and children take part in a variety of community events. 

Year 5 children have the opportunity to take part in the 'Young Voices' choir.

Year 2 children sing in St Neots music festival. 

Year 3 & 6 children perform and sing to parents in the carol concert at Christmas. 

For any further information on music tuition please speak to the school office.