Showcasing Music
Nursery
This term, Nursery children have really enjoyed reading their class novel ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and have had the opportunity to explore playing musical instruments during different parts of the story to create a certain mood. Also, the children have been developing their skills of singing together and keeping in time to a beat through the learning of several nursery rhymes. In Nursery, the children have developed their vocal skills further through cross-curricular learning where they have learnt to count in maths by singing different counting songs.
Reception
During the Autumn term, the Reception children have developed their vocal skills by singing a range of songs for their nativity. They have practised singing together as part of a choir whilst focusing on staying in time to a beat as well as staying in tune. During their rehearsals, the children have been able to play musical instruments which have accompanied their singing. The children have then had the opportunity to perform their nativity to a live audience.
Year 1
Year 1 have enjoyed following the Charanga scheme of work in their music lessons during the Spring term. Whilst following the unit, the children have developed their singing skills focusing on pitch, tempo and rhythm. Developing their music abilities further, the children have had the opportunity to introduce percussion (untuned) instruments to their performances of the song by following the scheme and by improvising their own compositions. The children then had the opportunity to perform the whole music ensemble (singing and playing instruments) to the other Year 1 class.
Year 2
Over the Spring term, Year 2 have followed the Charanga scheme of work in their music lessons, which they have taken great pleasure in. Focusing on developing their vocal abilities, the children have been singing a song whilst paying close attention to their pitch, tempo, dynamics and timbre. Whilst rehearsing the song, the children have had the opportunity to introduce percussion (untuned) and tuned instruments to their piece as well as improvising their own compositions. The children then had the opportunity to perform the whole music ensemble (singing and playing instruments) to the other Year 2 class.
Year 3
During the Spring term, Year 3 have been learning about the lives of the Ancient Egyptians, including daily routines and how music played a part in this. The children have loved looking at the types of instruments that the Ancient Egyptians used to play and have really enjoyed having the opportunity to try and replicate these using materials from home. The children were given time to listen to the sounds their material made in order to develop their musical instruments. Once made, the children were given the chance to perform to an audience (the other Year 3 class) with their musical instruments.
Year 4
Year 4 have taken pleasure in learning how to play the recorders. The children have identified the correct way to hold the instrument and how they use it to make a sound. They have developed their learning of playing simple musical notes when following the Charanga scheme. Whilst in year 4, the children have had the opportunity to enrich their music learning by taking part in the Young Voices rehearsals and performing as part of a choir at a concert held for parents.
Year 5
Year 5 have really enjoyed learning about the lives of the Ancient Greeks during the Autumn term. They were particularly fascinated about the importance of music for the Ancient Greeks and how they have influenced music in the 21st century - including the influence on today’s musical instruments and the introduction of musical notation when performing. The children linked this learning to their recorder lessons where they could identify the musical instruments that have influenced the creation of recorders. The children have increased their confidence in playing a variety of notes when following the Charanga scheme and have developed their skills enough to perform a song on recorders following musical notation. Also in year 5, the children have had the opportunity to enrich their music learning by attending The Morley Elderly Action group at the town hall, performing together as part of a choir.
Year 6
Year 6 have thoroughly enjoyed learning to play tuned instruments this term with the use of hand bells, which are colour coded. The children started their learning by playing one bell each. As their learning has progressed throughout the term, the children have developed their hand eye co-ordination with the ability to play 2 hand bells each. In their final week of term, year 6 performed Jingle bells with the hand bells, which was recorded and uploaded to the website. An opportunity to enrich their learning of hand bells further was provided with a lunch time club where the children have learnt a variety of songs using non colour coded hand bells.
