At Wheatley we believe that music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. We strive to provide a  high-quality music education that aims to engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians. We believe that having this access to music  helps the children to  increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon. 

Our Music teaching and learning is underpinned by the following intent and principles

Aims

The national curriculum for music aims to ensure that all pupils:

• perform, listen to, review and evaluate music across a range of historical periods, genres, styles and traditions, including the works of the great composers and musicians
• learn to sing and to use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others, have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, use technology appropriately and have the opportunity to progress to the next level of musical excellence
• 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

Implementation: The Teaching of Music

Children at Wheatley receive at least 45 minutes of high quality music every week, taught by a specialist music teacher, as well as singing assembly lead by same teacher or the headteacher within their keystage.  Singing is also used within other curriculum areas to support the learning of facts and as a memory aid or as a support to routines or to provide a brain break. 

All children are taught a balance of listening skills, performing, instrument learning and composing throughout their time at Wheatley and additionally, have many opportunities to perform within many contexts, both in school and outside.

Click on the links below to view how the teaching of music is broken down across the different areas of music at Wheatley.