Rocksteady
For many pupils at Greenfields Specialist School for Communication listening to and experiencing music can support their love of learning and engagement across the curriculum. It can promote communication, independence and emotional wellbeing and can be delivered in a variety of contexts and settings.
Rocksteady are working with the school to enable pupils to to experience music on a different level and has provided opportunities to for pupils to engage with and learn different instruments, to listen, to share and to perform.
Our work with Rocksteady has been developed to build confidence, independence, problem solving, resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Our work with Rocksteady has been developed to build confidence, independence, problem solving, resilience and emotional wellbeinG
Pupils who are able to share and engage either individually or working within a group develop skills which enable them them to participate with a wider range of peers and adults. They are confident learners who take pride in their achievements.
MUSIC
The SCOPE of GSSC’s music curriculum is to provide pupils with a broad and balanced understanding of music, encompassing performance, composition and appreciation, in line with the National Curriculum, taken from Kapow and adapted for pupils via class teachers, supported by the Music Lead. We are encouraging pupils to explore various musical traditions, genres and styles and in turn developing their musical skills across different aspects of musicianship.
GSSC’s music curriculum is designed to be coherent, building upon previous learning and providing both support and challenge for students. We use a spiral approach, revisiting component knowledge with increasing depth overtime, allowing for a gradual development of musical understanding. The curriculum is structured around four key areas: listening, composing, performing and the history of music, ensuring a comprehensive and holistic approach to music education. The importance of understanding the inter-related dimensions of music (pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, and structure) are strands throughout the curriculum, providing a foundation for musical understanding.
Our curriculum outlines a clear progression of component knowledge, ensuring that each year builds upon the previous one. This allows students to develop their musicianship steadily.
The curriculum focusses on progressively developing musical skills and knowledge through a series of units organized into strands. These units cover performing, listening, and composing, while also introducing children to music history and the dimensions of music. The curriculum is designed to ensure broad knowledge of various music styles and genres, while also fostering critical thinking and musical vocabulary.
The sequencing of the curriculum can be split into six parts:
- Strands: The units of work are grouped into thematic strands, such as Popular, Rock and Rap; Nursery Rhymes and Rhythm; Classical; Film Soundtrack; and World Music. This allows for a diverse musical experience and helps children develop an appreciation for different musical styles.
- Unit Structure: Each unit of work typically includes 5 lessons, each focused on developing specific musical skills or exploring particular aspects of music. Lessons often begin with an enquiry question that sets the stage for the unit's focus, introducing key vocabulary and revisiting prior learning.
- Key Music Skills: The core skills of performing, listening, and composing are integrated into all units of work. Additionally, critical thinking skills are developed alongside these core skills, helping children analyse and evaluate music.
- Dimensions of Music: The inter-related dimensions of music (pitch, duration, timbre, etc.) are highlighted and integrated throughout the units, acting as building blocks for musical understanding.
- Progression: The curriculum is designed for progression, with each unit building on prior learning and reinforcing key concepts. Repetition and revision are used to solidify knowledge and skills, ensuring children are well-prepared for more advanced learning.
- National Curriculum Coverage: The units of work are chosen to align with the National Curriculum, ensuring that all required areas of music education are covered.
By sequencing the curriculum in this way, Music aims to provide a comprehensive and engaging learning experience for children, fostering their musical skills, knowledge, and appreciation for music.