In Sycamore Academy, we believe that the opportunity to engage in musical experiences is crucial for the development of the whole child. Our aspiration is that every child adopts a lifelong love of music.
We aim to provide children with a wealth of musical experiences such as playing instruments, singing, creating and performing their own music. As children engage with these activities they will develop confidence, communication skills, thinking skills and creativity.
Through all of these musical experiences, we aim to introduce music from different cultures to reflect our diverse community and promote to the children that music is an enjoyable subject and in the words of Hans Werner Henze:
“There is no such thing as an unmusical person.”
Our Aims:
Overall, our aims are not just about teaching the technical skills of music, but are also to enrich the overall development of the child socially, emotionally and
Our intention in Music is to ensure all children hear and enjoy all types of music from different cultures, genres and historical periods and to be aware that music is a means of emotional communication and connections with others.
Children should participate in music making with enjoyment and confidence, acquiring the skills, concepts and attitudes outlined in the Model Music Curriculum and developing a positive attitude to their music making.
Children will develop critical listening skills and respond to music in different ways, explore composing and performing using our voices and instruments and be able to express an opinion about the music they like or dislike.
We aim to provide opportunities to sing together as a whole school.
As Musicians we will:
Our music curriculum is a spiral curriculum based upon the interrelated dimensions of music. Each dimension is introduced through our EYFS curriculum, and revisited regularly, deepening the understanding of each strand as the children progress through the school. Our curriculum is a practical, exploratory and child led approach to music learning.
The learning within this scheme is based on:
In the Foundation Stage we teach music in Nursery and Reception classes as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the musical aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Music contributes to a child’s personal and social development. Counting songs foster a child’s mathematical ability, and songs from different cultures increase a child’s knowledge and understanding of the world.
KS1 children use the Charanga Scheme of Learning and the pupils are taught to:
KS2 children have the opportunity to work with a music specialist from the Nottingham Music Hub in either whole class or small groups to learn to play either a cello, violin or viola in line with the National Curriculum requirements. Through this tuition they have the opportunity to:
In addition to this pupils should be taught to:
As a whole, the pupils at Sycamore have various opportunities to sing and play together throughout the year at varying concerts both in and out of the school, with KS2 children having the chance to perform with other student musicians from within the L.E.A.D Academy.
Our youngest children take part in either the annual Christmas Nativity production or an Easter production. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 take part in a Christmas Carol Concert while Year 6 also participate in a summer production. Additionally, KS2 children are giving opportunities through LEAD and the Music Hub to perform their instruments in front of an audience at the Royal Albert Hall, along with other young musicians including the Robin Hood Youth Orchestra.
The school is also part of Area Band through the Nottingham Music Hub scheme – giving children who are passionate about playing instruments the chance to enhance and develop their skills, regularly meeting with other schools and as part of an area band ensemble to perform in local venues for larger audiences.
Children will have the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate a wide variety of musical styles while exploring how sounds are made and how different instruments produce music. Through music education, they will develop their imagination and creativity, building a strong sense of pulse and rhythm. They will gain an understanding of key musical vocabulary and refine their skills in composition, improvisation, performance, and appreciation.
Singing will also be an integral part of their learning, allowing them to enjoy a diverse range of songs and develop their ability to sing in tune. Most importantly, music education will foster positive attitudes, providing children with a sense of success and satisfaction in their musical experiences.
