‘Without music, life would be a mistake.’

Friedrich Nietzsche

Music

At Bowness, we make music an enjoyable learning experience.  We encourage all children to participate in a variety of musical experiences through which we aim to build up their love of music, self-confidence and sense of achievement.  Our teaching focuses on developing the children’s ability to sing in tune with and other people, play tuned and untuned musical instruments with increasing control, fluency and expression and listen critically to a wide range of music from different periods, genres, styles and traditions.  As children progress through school they will increasingly understand and explore how music is created, produced and communicated through the interrelated dimensions of music: pitch, duration, dynamics, tempo, timbre, texture, structure and musical notation.  By Key Stage 2 children will begin to improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the interrelated dimensions of music.

At Bowness Primary School, in conjunction with the aims of the National Curriculum, our Music key concepts and ideas are:

1. Children will develop self-confidence and a sense of achievement through performing and developing their talent as musicians. 
2. Children will learn to sing and use their voices, to create and compose music on their own and with others and will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. 
3. Children will gain a broad understanding of the history of inspirational musicians, music and musical instruments. They will learn about the evolution of instruments, compositions, musical styles and famous/iconic composers. 
4. Children will have a greater knowledge of the potential career opportunities available to them, broaden their horizons and gain an understanding that jobs and careers are not bound by social mobility or gender stereotypes. 
5. Children will understand how music can support the development of life skills, such as confidence, self-awareness, perseverance and discipline and provide a holistic experience that they can take beyond their musical studies.

Characteristics of a Musician 

• A rapidly widening repertoire which they use to create original, imaginative, fluent and distinctive composing and performance work. 
• A musical understanding underpinned by high levels of aural perception, internalisation and knowledge of music, including high or rapidly developing levels of technical expertise. 
• Very good awareness and appreciation of different musical traditions and genres.
• An excellent understanding of how musical provenance - the historical, social and cultural origins of music - contributes to the diversity of musical styles.
• The ability to give precise written and verbal explanations, using musical terminology effectively, accurately and appropriately.
• A passion for and commitment to a diverse range of musical activities.

Aspirations for the Future

Pupils develop an understanding of how subjects and specific skills are linked to future jobs.

Here are some of the jobs you could aspire to do in the future as a Musician:

• Theatre performer
• Songwriter
• Casting director
• RAF Musician
• Performer