The Drive, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3PS
Phone: 0208 518 2562
Music
At Cranbrook Primary, we acknowledge the importance of music within our curriculum. We also recognise the invaluable cognitive and technical skills music develops and enhances. These are skills that can be applied and utilised in other subjects and activities, both inside and outside of school.
We aim to create confident communicators, through a variety of performing, composing and listening experiences. These include reciting and chanting, singing and playing instruments, improvising and creating their own music. These varied opportunities aim to help develop our children’s confidence and foster an enthusiasm for music. Solo performances aim to develop independence and resilience while small ensemble and whole class performances encourage teamwork and mutual respect.
Through instrumental tuition, we help pupils develop better co-ordination of their fine and gross motor skills. Music lessons are designed to further enhance memory and instil in each pupil the discipline and perseverance needed to achieve successful learning.
Our music curriculum is culturally and socially diverse which introduces all children to instrumentation and ensembles from around the globe. We aim to enhance our pupils’ cultural capital by introducing them to a wide variety of genres and styles, with varied influences – both geographical and historical. Inclusion is central to our learning path in music, which broadens pupils’ horizons and deepens their working knowledge of the subject, whilst gaining understanding and respect for other cultures, languages and traditions.
We create a safe learning environment that enables all pupils to engage in a subject that improves wellbeing and promotes positivity. Lessons allow the pupils to have meaningful interactions with others and nurture a culture of creativity.
“The power of 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 schools, 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. The sheer joy of music making can feed the soul of a school community, enriching each student while strengthening the shared bonds of support and trust which make a great school.” (Statement from the Model Music Curriculum.)
Websites to further music learning
Musical elements information slideshows and videos:
Oak National Academy – Over 100 Music Lessons covering many topics
Ten Pieces - 40 Classical pieces explained)
Highlights include -
Chanting and Singing – Starting in Early Years and progressing through KS1 and KS2, singing and chanting form the foundation for music learning at Cranbrook Primary. Every music lesson incorporates singing and chanting to develop aural skills, phrasing, reading skills, pronunciation skills and vocal strength. The children learn songs in different languages from different musical traditions and different countries all over the world. As pupils move through the key stages, they learn how to sing songs in unison, in two and three parts and using call and response. Children learn to sing with accurate pitch and rhythm and incorporate musical elements such as dynamics into their singing and chanting.
Listening and Appraising – The teaching of music is enriched by listening to and discussing music from many different traditions, historical periods and different cultures around the world. Pupils have the opportunity in every music lesson to ask questions about and discuss different musical performances using an expanding musical vocabulary.
Performing – This is a central part of music making at Cranbrook. Every child gets the opportunity in KS2 to learn the recorder, ukulele, keyboard and djembe drum. Solo and ensemble performances take place during the music lessons and during our regular music assemblies. Pupils can also join the lunchtime music clubs such as choir and recorder club.
Composing – Composition is the final key skill that helps pupils create and develop their own musical ideas. Throughout the key stages children are encouraged to create rhythmic and melodic patterns. They learn to incorporate the musical elements such as dynamics, tempo and eventually texture and structure into their compositions. They learn ways to write down or notate music using staff and graphic notation.
As well as learning instruments in the whole class setting all pupils at Cranbrook can learn an orchestral instrument via our local music hub the Redbridge Music Service. These can be single or group lessons and can be set up by following the relevant links. Instruments include; flute, clarinet, oboe, violin, cello, trumpet, guitar and piano.
The local music hub also organises musical events during the school year which includes a choral festival at the Royal Albert Hall, a recorder festival at the James Hawkey Hall and a choir competition. These events give pupils an opportunity to experience performing outside of Cranbrook with other musicians and choirs from other East London schools.
We set high expectations for every pupil at Cranbrook, whatever their prior attainment. In music we use appropriate assessments to set targets which are ambitious. Inclusion is central to every music lesson which adheres to the following principles: setting suitable learning challenges, responding to diverse needs, and overcoming potential barriers to learning within the music setting.
