Intent

At Longstone CofE (VA) Primary School, music has always been a passion of the school and our overall aim in music is for our pupils to leave school with a sound understanding of appreciating, reading, performing and composing music. We aim to do this through nurturing the curiosity of music around them; igniting an interest in musical experiences and allowing their musical talents to shine.
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We provide numerous opportunities for children to grow their love of music and nurture their musical talents at Longstone. Children have the opportunity to learn a range of instruments from our array of very talented peripatetic teachers, who offer 1:1 weekly lessons. We also provide a variety of music clubs, such as recorders, ukulele and choir. Class teachers also provide weekly music teaching using a scheme called Charanga (endorsed by the Derbyshire Music Partnership), which develops a range of musical skills, such as appreciating, reading, performing and composing music. Children in KS2 also learn to play the clarinet. Emphasis is also placed on providing our children with opportunities to explore a range of genres, such as jazz, classical and pop, as well as use a range of musical terminology, such as timbre, tempo and texture. Our children are able to showcase their musical talents during assemblies, concerts and performances, which take place throughout the year. 

Implementation

Here at Longstone, music is really important to us.  There are many opportunities throughout the year for our children to develop and showcase their musical experience and knowledge. Music teaching at Longstone covers the National Curriculum through the use of a personalised Charanga scheme of work. Music lessons are broken down into half-termly units, which support children to appreciate, sing, play, compose and perform different styles of music. Our weekly music lessons taught by class teachers involve tapping out rhythms; listening to and describing music from our termly composer, as well as composers that fit with particular topics; playing and performing pieces learnt on a variety of instruments and transcribing music. Children also hear and use musical vocabulary every week, so it soon becomes part of their everyday language. 

As well as weekly classroom lessons, we are extremely lucky to have a range of daily visiting peripatetic teachers, who help our children to learn an instrument from an early age. We also encourage individuals to perform each week in our celebration assembly. In KS2, children take part in the Wider Opportunities programme provided by the local Music Hub, which allows all KS2 pupils to learn an instrument. 

We also believe that music is learnt and created to be performed in a variety of ways, whether that be as a class; in an assembly; on our online classroom or at a concert. Therefore, we provide various opportunities throughout the year for children to showcase their musical talents. 

Impact

Our Music Curriculum is planned to demonstrate progression and build on and embed current skills. We focus on progression of knowledge and skills in the different musical components and teaching of vocabulary also forms part of the units of work. Children leave Longstone C E Primary School as happy, confident learners who have developed a love and understanding of written and audible music. They have high aspirations and are confident in the art of singing, playing, composing and performing.
 
Through both curricular and extra-curricular music we aim to:

• Foster a life-long love of music
• Equip our children with skills that develop their confidence and self-expression
• Develop the children's understanding and tolerance of others through a wide range of music experience
• Equip the children with enough music theory in order to facilitate their practical application
• Equip children with the musical knowledge to flourish at secondary school
• Expose children to a variety and breadth of musical genres and composers
• Develop the children's skills of performing, composing and appreciating music

• Ensure all children make progress with their learning, with most children working at, or above, their expected level for music
• Provide opportunities for all children to join extra-curricular music groups
• Develop a positive parental engagement through attending concerts and supporting the learning of instruments

The Importance of Music

​The following video goes some way to explain how music may benefit your child:

Music Gallery

Instrumental lessons

We have a designated practice room that our peripatetic teachers use for lessons on a daily basis. Instrumental lessons currently taught to our children are:

• Piano
• Voice
• Drums
• Guitar
• Bass Guitar
• Violin
• Cello
• Woodwind - flute and clarinet
• Brass - trumpet, cornet, trombone and french horn

If your child is interested in having instrumental lessons with one of our teachers, please contact the school office.

Our Special Longstone School 75th VE Day Video

Music is so important to us at Longstone School, that we still incorporated it, where possible, during the lockdown of 2020. We proved that even when apart you can create a musical masterpiece!