Music
Subject leader: Mrs Kerry
Contact email: pennowethlowerks2@croftymat.org
Our music curriculum intent
‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.’
— Plato —
At Pennoweth, children gain a secure understanding of what music is through listening, singing, playing, evaluating, analysing, and composing across a wide variety of historical periods, styles, traditions, and musical genres. Our aim is for all children to develop an inquisitiveness for Music, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the validity and importance of all types of music. We are committed to ensuring children understand the value and importance of music in the wider community, and are able to use their musical skills, knowledge, and experiences to involve themselves in music, in a variety of different contexts.
DNA
The culture of our DNA at Pennoweth also supports the teaching of music.
Our carefully planned music curriculum ensures children always feel safe and comfortable, creating an environment where they can explore their musical abilities with confidence. With support from adults and peers, and through inclusive music lessons, every child feels loved and valued. By offering opportunities to make choices in how they perform, compose, or present their work, children develop a sense of responsibility for their own musical progress. Mistakes are seen as an important part of learning, helping children build resilience and grow in their musical understanding. Through engaging music lessons and singing assemblies, our children are ready—ready to be independent, confident musicians who can apply their skills and knowledge in a variety of musical contexts.
What will my child experience through music at Pennoweth?
Music is taught through the Charanga scheme from Reception to Year 6 every week across the year and is included on all class timetables.
In Early Years, music is delivered through holistic practice as an integral part of early development. Invitations to engage with sound are planned for every day and singing is integrated throughout daily practice. Each week there is a focused taught music session.
In KS1 and KS2, pupils are taught music by their class teachers so aspects of learning can be revisited throughout the week. These lessons follow the Charanga framework which has been mapped out across the year.
In addition, once a year each year group has a ‘focus’ on music through their curriculum project (see below).
Year 1 – Rio de Vida
Year 2- Beat Band Boogie
Year 3 – Heroes and Villains
Year 4 – Playlist
Year 5 – Alchemy Island
Year 6 – A Child’s War
This project enables them to consider music through a different lens: either through a detailed focus on a country or a focus on a certain type of music in more depth. Knowledge and understanding of music that has been gained throughout the Charanga curriculum is also considered within this focus learning providing children with an opportunity to contextualise their learning.
Throughout the year, pupils encounter diverse musical genres and traditions from around the world. Examples include:
– Gamelan (Indonesia)
– Taiko drumming (Japan)
– Inuit throat singing (North America)
In addition, each year group focuses on a specific composer throughout the year, exploring their music through the BBC Ten Pieces programme. This encourages pupils to listen, perform, and respond to music through art, dance, digital media, and composition. The composers are as follows:
Year 1 – Kerry Adams
Year 2 – Gustav Holst
Year 3 – George Handel
Year 4 – Piotr Tchaikosvsky
Year 5 – Johann Bach
Year 6 – Ludwig van Beethoven
Over the next two years, we will be working with The Hall for Cornwall, who are providing bespoke activities in dance, drama, and music. These sessions are designed to enhance wellbeing, foster creativity, and support literacy development for both pupils and staff, giving everyone the chance to engage in inspiring and enriching experiences.
What musical skills and knowledge will my child learn at Pennoweth?
What sort of musical language will my child learn at Pennoweth?
What do Pennoweth’s children think about music?
Year 1 children have said the following about music:
‘I like Wolfgang Mozart. I like listening to his songs.’
‘I like doing different patterns. I like playing the triangle.’
‘I like using our voice in different ways, high, low, quiet and loud.’
‘I liked when we first sang the new song. It’s called fearless hero. I liked it because it is very challenging to sing. I like listening to and responding to the music.’
‘I like learning about the notation which is when music is written down. I like writing our own notiation.’
‘I liked the rap lesson because we all got to work together as a team.’
Rocksteady lessons
Rocksteady gives children the opportunity to play as part of a band. The children can choose from the electric guitar, keyboard, drums or vocals and enjoy playing in a happy, supportive environment with their friends.
More information can be found here: https://www.rocksteadymusicschool.com/info-for-parents/
Guitar and ukulele lessons.
Guitar lessons are available in school through Cornwall Music Service Trust. The different lesson options can be seen below:
Group Type 1 (£6.00) – Based on a group of 4 for 30 minutes.
Group Type 2 (£8.00) – Based on a group of 2 for 20 minutes.
Group Type 3 (£8.00) – Based on a group of 3 for 30 minutes.
Group Type 4 (£12.00) – Based on a group of 2 for 30 minutes
Individual 15 Minute (£12.00)
Individual 20 Minute (£16.00)
Individual 30 Minute (£24.00)
If you are interested in signing up your child, please use the following website: https://cmst.co.uk/. If there are no spaces available then you will be placed on a waiting list.
Performances
Cornwall Orchestra
We had a brilliant morning listening to visitors from the Cornwall Orchestra. The children enjoyed listening to different woodwind instruments such as flute, clarinet, oboe and the bassoon. We were very impressed with the number of instruments that Katherine could play. We heard songs that we recognised such as Harry Potter and Frozen.
Will Keating
We all had a brilliant day with Will Keating doing music workshops. We finished the day with a whole school performance of Cornwall my Home.
Redruth School
We were lucky enough to have several students from Redruth perform to us on the flute, guitar, drums and keyboard. They were all fantastic and lots of the children were eager to start learning an instrument after listening to them.
Figurehead
We were all very excited when a local sea shanty band called ‘Figurehead’ came in to perform to the children. We all enjoyed singing along to the songs we recognised, especially ‘Wellerman’!
Useful music websites and links
BBC Bitesize – KS1