Music

Music is a fundamental part of the community both in and out of school. Consequently, we provide children with a wide range of musical opportunities designed not only to inspire a life-long love of music and creativity but also to enhance their cultural capital. At Danetree we feel that music should not be the privilege of the wealthy few but instead something which all pupils can access. As a result, pupils are actively encouraged to learn to play a musical instrument either through whole class instrumental tuition, clubs or visiting peripatetic staff. Musical opportunities include weekly music lessons and singing assemblies, the Choir, Recorder and Recorder Ensemble, as well as music themed performances. No matter how a child engages with music, they have the opportunity to perform regularly in their time with us. 

Danetree uses a bespoke music curriculum centred around meaningful music making. As a result, pupils explore a wide range of topics through which relevant key skills are developed in progressive and engaging way. Music lessons are active and engaging with pupils having the opportunity to sing, move and use props, play a host of musical instruments and use music technology to compose, improvise and perform. 

Through a child’s journey at Danetree, their musical skills and understanding are built on year on year and so too is their creativity. As music is an aural subject, assessment is completed using video footage, observation and teacher assessment against the key curriculum skills assigned to each unit. Throughout all of this the child’s enjoyment of music is key. 

“Music education can help spark a child’s imagination or ignite a lifetime of passion. When you provide a child with new worlds to explore and challenges to tackle, the possibilities are endless. Music education should not be a privilege for a lucky few, it should be a part of every child’s world of possibility.” Hillary Clinton 

By the time our pupils leave us at the end of Key Stage 2, we ensure that children are prepared to:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles, traditions and cultures, including the works of the great composers and musicians  
• understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated, including through the inter-related dimensions: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and appropriate musical notations
• acquire a deep knowledge of musical terms and for them to be able to talk confidently about the importance of music within society
• learn, think, read, write and speak like musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices and learn to play a range of musical instruments 
• create and compose music on their own and with others
• perform to a variety of audiences
• are ready to progress to the next level of musical excellence instilled with a with a love and appreciation of music