Music
At Fairfield, we believe that music is a unique way of communicating that can inspire and motivate children. Listening to and making music fulfils an instinctive human need for self-expression and creativity. It can be uplifting, therapeutic and has a positive effect on our well-being.
Music is a foundation subject in the Curriculum 2014. At Fairfield, we teach music using the Sparkyard Music Curriculum, which provides a clear sequence of musical activities to use in our classrooms. With fabulous Out of the Ark songs at its heart, it uses a skills-based approach where key musical concepts and themes are developed and revisited across the year groups, building on knowledge and understanding at every stage.
Our Music Curriculum covers the statutory National Curriculum for England and satisfies a wealth of suggestions made in the Model Music Curriculum. But the most important thing that we must remember is that the overriding goals should be to foster a lasting love of music; to experiment and make music and to find great joy in singing.
We are indeed a singing school and high expectations of the Staff ensure all children sing, learn songs by heart and enjoy singing as a natural part of their school experience. All children have the opportunity to perform before an audience many times during their time at Fairfield. The Music Co-ordinator sets the example by leading singing whenever possible and at any appropriate opportunity!
Music, and particularly singing, contribute significantly to the teaching of English by actively promoting the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Children develop language through singing, by paying attention to diction, meaning, rhythm and rhyme. Likewise, the teaching of music contributes to children’s mathematical understanding in a variety of ways by observing patterns and processes. These key musical skills can support learning in all subjects and enhance life skills such as good communication, concentration, creativity, teamwork, and perseverance. Furthermore, music arouses feelings and emotions from deep within our soul.
School Focus
- All children are encouraged to use their voices expressively and creatively by singing songs, chants, raps, rhymes etc. Singing assemblies are enjoyed by all.
- The children’s work is showcased through class and whole school performances.
- All classes perform in Church for the Harvest Festival, Christmas Carol Service and Easter Service.
- All classes in Reception and KS1 perform a Christmas production which includes singing dancing and acting.
- KS2 Classes entertain us with a production at the end of the Spring Term.
- The finale to the academic year is the Leavers’ Assembly produced and performed by Willow Class.
- Children listen and learn about music, both classical and modern. We subscribe to ‘Musician of the Month’ whereby children learn about a different musician and their music every month.
- All classes are encouraged to use the instruments that we have at school to play in lessons and within performances. Classes are encouraged to experiment, create, select and combine sounds using the inter-related dimensions of music (eg, pitch, dynamics, tempo etc).
- As children move into KS2, appropriate musical vocabulary is taught. We have a class set of glockenspiels which, when used in class, begin to introduce musical notation to children.
- In recent years, all children in Year 3 have had the opportunity to learn to play the ukulele and thus have begun to experience musical notation.
- When possible, we have had musical workshops given by professional musicians enabling children to make and play instruments in a topical context.
Enrichment opportunities
- Membership of Choir – including opportunities to perform in public within the local community.
- Keyboard lessons.
- Going to the theatre, normally at Christmas.
- KS2 participating in ‘The Big Sing’, singing a number of songs along with other children from Worcestershire schools.
- Arts Week in school, incorporating musical items eg, musical workshops, music and art, celebrating musicians, making and performing with instruments.
