At Fairway Primary School, our intent is to deliver a music curriculum which enables children to develop a love of a wide range of musical genres and be able to explore aspects of performing, listening and composing.

At Fairway, we encourage children to EXPLORE their own love of music and their talent as musicians, KNOW how to be critical through their engagement of music and compositions and be able to effectively COMMUNICATE the value and importance of music in the wider community.

During their learning journey at Fairway we want children to develop an understanding of the following key concepts:

• pulse
• rhythm
• dynamics
• tempo
• pitch

We aim to develop cultural capital in our learners, by enabling them to develop their appreciation and love of music. This will prepare them for the next stage of their education and enable them to become citizens who appreciate a diverse range of musical genres.

Inclusion is at the core of our vision and ethos. We have developed opportunities to consider the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act, British Values and children’s development of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education throughout our music curriculum. We look to develop children’s awareness about the lives of others and this work is constantly changing and developing. 

Music learning at Fairway Primary School is carefully planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on prior learning and provide progression towards end of year and end of key stage expectations.

The organisation of the music curriculum allows children’s knowledge, understanding and skills to develop over time.  We have carefully adapted the KAPOW scheme of work to ensure all aspects of music are covered throughout their learning journey.

Music lessons are planned to:

• build on prior knowledge.
• encourage children to think about their learning, to reflect on previous learning and make connections between new and existing learning.
• give clear learning objectives and success criteria.
• develop the children’s vocabulary, with adults effectively modelling precise and rich language linked to music.
• give opportunities for children to work collaboratively in pairs or groups as well as work independently.
• develop their listening, performing and composing skills.
• use effective questioning to check levels of understanding.

We aim to support all children to reach their full potential by enabling children to overcome barriers to learning. Assessment is used to inform next steps in learning to ensure that children are building on their prior knowledge and making appropriate progress according to their ability and age.

Our music curriculum enables children to:

• use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs.
• learn how to play tuned and untuned instruments.
• 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. 
• 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.