“With music, one’s whole future life is brightened.  This is such a treasure in life that it helps us over many troubles and difficulties. Music is nourishment, a comforting elixir.   Music multiplies all that is beautiful and of value in life.”  – Zoltan Kodaly

Music is a universal language, and at The Mead Infant and Nursery school our musical journey starts with what the children know and enjoy. It is our intent that we make music an enjoyable learning experience, encouraging children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up confidence and expression along with knowledge and understanding of how music works.

Across the Foundation stage and KS1, the music curriculum at The Mead shows progress in singing, listening, performing, evaluating, in both explicit teaching and coincidental, every day experiences across the school.

In the Foundation stage, music is interweaved through all areas of play, teaching and learning.  Children enjoy singing nursery rhymes and favourite songs, and get a daily diet of rhythm and rhyme from the ‘Poetry Basket’.  Exploration and teaching often follows a particular topic, interest or key celebration for the children in the class.  Much exploring takes place, finding out by having hands on experience with instruments, hearing a range of music, and a wide variety of songs and rhymes. Music is often linked with stories, art, and being able to express oneself through music and other means is a large part of our PSHE curriculum.

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, various live performances and the learning of instruments (samba club and percussion lessons).  Childrens’ music diet is carefully considered and through music from the Renaissance period through to modern day, with music from different cultures too.

Through the musical program Charanga, teachers in Reception and onwards are able to produce inclusive lessons for all children to access the musical curriculum in a fun and engaging way, further promoting a love of learning. Teachers deliver music following the Charanga programme, designed specifically for the teaching of music in primary schools. Charanga lessons are planned in sequences to provide children with the opportunities to review, remember, deepen and apply their understanding.  The elements of music are taught in classroom lessons so that children are able to use some of the language of music to dissect it, and understand how it is made, played, appreciated and analysed.  In the classroom children learn how to play the glockenspiel and a variety of percussion instruments. They also learn how to compose, focusing on different dimensions of music, which in turn feeds their understanding when listening, playing, or analysing music. Composing or performing using body percussion and vocal sounds is also part of the curriculum, which develops the understanding of musical elements without the added complexity of an instrument.

Music at The Mead allows children to understand the workings of music on a technical and personal level. Children develop an understanding of culture and history, both in relation to children individually, as well as ethnicities from across the world. Music is a personal expression that is unique to individuals. Children at The Mead are inspired to continue their musical journey where they are proud to belong.