Music

Music is all around us. It is the soundtrack to our lives! Music connects us through people and places in our ever-changing world. It is creative, collaborative, celebratory and challenging. In our school, music can bring communities together through the shared endeavour of whole-school singing, ensemble playing, experimenting with the creative process and, through the love of listening to friends and fellow pupils, performing. 

At Sandilands Primary School we follow the New Model Music Curriculum through the Charanga scheme of work. Please click here to view the knowledge and skills progression framework for years 1-6. 

The Music curriculum ensures children sing, listen, play, perform and evaluate. This is embedded in the classroom activities as well as the weekly singing assemblies for KS1, Christmas concerts, performances and the opportunities to learn instruments. 

The elements of music are taught in the classroom lessons which give children opportunities to explore different types of music. They have the opportunity to see how music is made, played, appreciated and analysed. In the classroom children are able to explore different types of percussive instruments and are exposed to the four main instrument groups. This enables them to understand the methods of creating notes. They also learn how to compose focussing on different dimensions of music, which enables them to deepen their understanding of the elements of music. Children are also encouraged to perform music to both their peers and adults in concerts and assemblies throughout the school year.

Charanga Scheme structure

The Music Model Curriculum covers Years 1-6 with six self-sufficient units per year. Each unit is in turn structured into six steps which are covered though a pace of one step per weekly lesson. The first step of each unit introduces that unit’s focus in terms of content, skills and knowledge; this is then developed by the middle steps; and a final sixth step assesses the learning through exciting performances and activities.

Songs at the heart of each lesson

At the centre of each step - each lesson - is a song around which the musical learning is centred. Each lesson has an easy-to-follow structure - complemented by a rich array of activities taking the pupils through the exercises in listening, singing, performing, composing, improvising and discussion. 

Guitar Lessons 

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In years 5 and 6 pupils can learn guitar with our guitar teacher Mr Cartwright. In addition to their weekly lesson, they perform to the rest of the school at key events throughout the year.