Download Music Strategy - Stapeley Broad Lane

Stapeley Broad Lane CE Primary School (the academy)
Music Strategy
April 2013, Music Subject Leader (Catherine Acklam)
Introduction
Music is arguably the most universal of the art forms, and plays an integral part in almost
every human society and culture. Most people participate actively in music at some
stage in their lives, as a listener, player or composer.
Music also has documented learning benefits, particularly for children and young people:

It aids the development of speech. Singing simple songs, for instance, can teach
children how language is constructed.

Music can help young people with maths. Counting, ratios, fractions and
proportions all play an important part in playing and learning of music.

It enhances social skills. ‘Children who take part in music develop higher levels of
social cohesion and understanding of themselves and others, and the emotional
aspect of musical activities seems to be beneficial for developing social skills like
empathy’ - Dr. Alexandra Lamont, Lecturer in the Psychology of Music,
University of Keele.

Studies increasingly suggest music enhances intellectual development. Music
‘helps improve children's ability to reason abstractly, by strengthening neural
firing patterns of the brain that are relevant to both musical and spatial cognition’
- Dr. Frances Rauscher (University of Wisconsin)

Music encourages self-expression and self-confidence. As a non-verbal
language, music can convey a complexity of emotions, and offers a means of
expression, for example, to a shy or diffident child who finds it hard to
communicate through speech

Most of all, engaging with music - at whatever level of involvement - can be both
inspiring and highly rewarding. Involvement with music can last a lifetime.
Strategic aims of Music at Stapeley Broad Lane
The three principal aims of Music at Stapeley Broad Lane School are:
1. To provide every young person with access to a range of music experiences to
deepen and broaden their musical interests and skills with minimum impact on
teaching time for other subjects.
2. To identify and nurture our most talented young musicians and provide them with
access to external and internal music tuition, events and support structures to
make and enjoy music.
3. To maintain the quality of music at Artsmark Gold level and to maintain and
develop external performance opportunities.
How we intend to achieve the Strategic aims
Musical activity in school is organised and coordinated by the Music Subject Leader in
collaboration with Class and Peripatetic Teachers, including responsibility for music
tuition timetables, promotion of activities and teaching opportunities, organisation of
events and provision of instruments.
Working together, the Music Subject Leader and Teachers will ensure that:

The majority of KS2 children have an opportunity of a prolonged activity on a
musical instrument, enhanced by external support, including Wider Opportunities
Programmes.

In addition to the above, all KS1 and KS2 children are to have the opportunity to
participate in singing activities.

Children electing to take music tuition are given opportunities to perform in
school once a term.

Children performing in ensembles and choirs are to be given the opportunity to
represent the school and perform at external events in conjunction with local
venues, organisations and events, including music competitions.

Year 5 and 6 pupils who elect to take music tuition in school time are taught to a
timetable during assembly, break or lunch times wherever possible.

Gaps in provision and development are identified and filled wherever possible,
including with one-off projects and musical opportunities.

Specialisms are shared where appropriate, including the sharing of specialist
music teachers between local schools.
This strategy is reviewed annually.