Music
Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words.
Robert G. Ingersoll
Music Curriculum Map (KS1 & 2)
Music at Hollinwood Academy aims to cultivate children and young people’s appreciation for various genres of music and encourage them to explore the sounds that surround them. Our inclusive curriculum is tailored to meet the needs of all learners, with fully differentiated schemes of work that engage children and young people at all levels.
Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on instrumental techniques, offering instruction in a variety of instruments, such as guitar, ukulele, keyboard, and percussion.
Our primary goal is to help children and young people to develop a lifelong passion for music and cultivate confidence as performers, composers, and listeners. We expose them to music from diverse cultures and periods, teaching them to respect and appreciate different musical traditions and communities.
Beyond the realm of music, our curriculum fosters the development of transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, creative problem-solving, decision-making, and presentation and performance abilities. These skills play a crucial role in children and young people’s overall development as learners and extend to their lives beyond school.
Music Lessons at Hollinwood Academy
At Hollinwood Academy, our Music lessons are designed to cultivate an appreciation for diverse genres of music and foster an understanding and exploration of the sounds that surround us. Our aim is to provide all children and young people with the opportunity to perform on a variety of instruments and actively participate in both group and individual music making.
In our Music lessons, children and young people will hone their skills in singing, playing both tuned and untuned instruments, improvising and composing music, and listening and responding to various musical styles. They will also gain an understanding of the historical and cultural context of the music they encounter, as well as learn how music can be transcribed.
Our children and young people thoroughly enjoy using percussion instruments, ukuleles, guitars, keyboards, and their own voices to actively participate in classroom music lessons. Furthermore, to facilitate their musical growth, we provide all children and young people with access to Music Technology using iPads, electronic drums, and digital keyboards. They can explore a range of apps such as Garageband, Djay, and Chrome MusicLab. To share and showcase their recordings, performances, and work, we utilize Showbie, enabling seamless collaboration and feedback in each of the three key areas.
Schemes of Work
At Hollinwood Academy, we are dedicated to providing our children and young people with a comprehensive and engaging music education. To support our teaching, we utilise two excellent music schemes: Charanga and Kapow Music.
Charanga is an online music scheme provided by Oldham Music Services. It offers a wide range of visual aids and interactive resources, specifically designed to enhance children's learning about music. With Charanga, we are able to deliver high-quality music lessons that cater to the diverse needs and learning styles of our children and young people. The scheme covers various aspects of music, including composition, performance, listening, and the history of music. With its user-friendly interface and rich content, Charanga greatly enhances the music learning experience for our children, young people, and teachers.
In addition to Charanga, we also implement the Kapow Music scheme at Hollinwood Academy. The Kapow Primary scheme takes a holistic approach to music education, seamlessly weaving together different strands such as performing, listening, composing, the history of music, and the inter-related dimensions of music. Each five-lesson unit within the scheme is based on a cross-curricular topic, stimulating children and young people’s imagination and encouraging them to explore music with enthusiasm. Through the Kapow Music scheme, our children and young people learn to sing fluently, play instruments accurately, and express themselves creatively through improvisations and compositions. They also gain a deep understanding of the interrelated dimensions of music, including pitch, duration, tempo, timbre, structure, texture, and dynamics.
To learn more about the Kapow Scheme of Work and its implementation in our school, please visit: https://www.kapowprimary.com/
To learn more about the Charanga Scheme of Work and its implementation in our school, please visit:https://charanga.com
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy
The curriculum adaptations and pedagogy at Hollinwood Academy is centered around meeting the unique needs and abilities of every learner, ensuring equal opportunities for academic, personal, and social development. The primary goals include:
1. Inclusivity: Adapt the curriculum to ensure that all learners have access to quality education, regardless of their individual needs.
2. Adaptive Teaching: Provide personalised learning experiences that cater to the diverse abilities, interests, and learning styles of the children and young people.
3. Progression: Foster a holistic and sequential approach to learning, allowing children and young people to build on their prior knowledge, skills, and understanding from their identified starting points.
4. Empowerment: Develop independent learners who are equipped with the skills, resilience, and self-confidence required to succeed academically and, in their future lives.
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy
Assessment
At Hollinwood Academy, we employ a comprehensive approach to assessing every child and young person's progress in music. Regular assessments are conducted using Evidence for Learning, providing us with a detailed understanding of each individual's development.
To provide tailored support, we establish bespoke and personalised music progress targets for each child and young person, which we closely monitor. We believe in fostering a strong partnership with parents, so these targets are shared with them on a termly basis through Arbor, our digital communication platform.
By adopting this rigorous and individualised approach to music assessments, we strive to ensure that all our students in formal can develop their musical abilities to their full potential.
Wider Curriculum and Celebration of Learning
At Hollinwood Academy, we believe that the wider curriculum plays a significant role in providing enriching opportunities for our children and young people beyond the confines of the classroom. In particular, our music curriculum is designed to introduce them to a world of melody, rhythm, and harmonies through various exciting initiatives.
One such initiative is our participation in events like Young Voices, where our young people have the fantastic opportunity to showcase their vocal talents on a grand stage.
Young Voices
Additionally, our school band has proven to be a true embodiment of musical excellence, as they have performed at events such as the Hollinwood Academy Christmas Markets and the Summer Fair.
We also proudly host an annual Christmas concert that is fully inclusive for the entire primary section, ensuring that every child can contribute to the festive spirit through music.
Through our music curriculum, we aim to celebrate and nurture the musical achievements of all our children and young people, fostering a passion for music that will last a lifetime.
Technology & Websites
We firmly believe in the power of technology to enhance learning, and we have made it an integral part of our music curriculum. At the primary stage, we embrace the use of iPads and other technological tools, enabling all children and young people to engage actively with their learning. By utilising these resources, we aim to remove barriers and make music accessible for every child and young person.
All children and young people have access to a wide range of interactive music and learning apps, including:
Garage band
Djay
Chrome MusicLab
Through the integration of music and technology, we empower our students to develop their musical talents and foster their creativity. This approach not only engages and motivates the students but also cultivates their love for music while preparing them for the ever-evolving digital world.
